Ship Fire Exposes Major Failures in Russia’s Struggling Navy
A fire that occurred recently on a Russian ship near the Syrian coast, according to analysts, shows that the Black Sea Fleet is gradually declining. The Kildin, a deteriorating 55-year-old ship was set on fire last Thursday and that has sparked questions on Moscow’s naval preparedness.
The ship’s hull gave off thick smoke and flames, which made the crew to launch a distress signal. Nevertheless, the vessel was on fire for five hours and the crew was still able to control the fire and proceed with their mission. It is noteworthy that two vessels had suffered a similar fire incident within two months of each other, which shows that Russia’s fleet has general maintenance issues.
This is because, as experts point out, Russia’s naval presence in the region is falling apart, especially as it loses its grip on Syria’s Tartus base. The new Damascus government has also cancelled a Russian commercial contract at Tartus and there is some question about the future of Moscow’s strategic foothold.
If Tartus is lost, it would be a big blow to Russia’s regional maritime operations. There are logistical and political challenges for the other bases, including Libya or Sudan. Russia’s actions in Mali have led Algeria, which was once an ally, to switch sides.
The fire on the Kildin, together with increasing technical problems and the unclear availability of ports, reveals the declining strength of Russia’s Mediterranean ship deployments and, in turn, raises doubts about the existence of Russia’s naval power in the region.
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