Russian warship flotilla now off Syrian coast, military says

A flotilla of Russian warships is now in the eastern Mediterranean off the Syrian coast after being sent to reinforce Russia’s military in the area, a naval commander said on television.

The commander of Russia’s flagship Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, Sergei Artamonov, said via videolink that the ships are now in the “designated zone ... in the eastern Mediterranean” and “are now jointly carrying out tasks, manoeuvring to the west of the Syrian coast”.

The battle group has travelled to Syria from the North Sea through the English Channel in the biggest such naval deployment in recent years as part of Russia’s military intervention in Syria.

Russia has been flying a bombing campaign in Syria for the past year in support of President Bashar al-Assad and has deployed a naval contingent to back up its operation.

The naval task force has been monitored closely by Nato, whose chief Jens Stoltenberg voiced concern the ships would be used to support the Russian military operation in Syria and “increase human and civilian suffering”.

The ship’s commander was speaking to a presenter on Russia-1 television from inside the defence ministry for a news show. He confirmed that aircraft are already taking off from the ship’s deck to view the conflict zone.