Interesting report, Lonewolf.
The report has appeared in the Russian media.
All personnel withdrawn from Russian navy base in Syria - diplomat
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister says all personnel had been evacuated from the navy resupply base in Tartus, Syria, adding that not a single Russian military serviceman remained in the country.
Mikhail Bogdanov made the announcement in an interview with the Al-Hayat newspaper. “Presently, the Russian Defense Ministry has not a single person stationed in Syria. The base does not have any strategic military importance,” the newspaper quoted the Russian official as saying.
Russian media have verified the statement and the business daily Vedomosti quoted an unnamed source in the Defense Ministry as saying that this was true as all military and civilian personnel had been evacuated from the Tartus base and there were no Russian military instructors working with the Syrian military forces. The source added that the withdrawal was prompted not only by the increased risks caused by the ongoing military conflict, but also by the fact that in the current conditions any incident involving Russian servicemen would likely have some unfavorable reaction from the international community.
All personnel withdrawn from Russian navy base in Syria - diplomat ? RT Russian politics
The Black Sea Fleet Amur Class Repair Ship PM-138 is still hove to at Tartus. She arrived there during late April 2013. PM-138 regularly sends a Morse weather message. I just checked the 18Z transmission on 8345 Kilohertz. The weather report contains a lat long, course and speed.
8345 RCV DE RBIZ 27181 99349 10358 22200 @1813Z
34.9N 35.8E Hove to Tartus, Syria
34.9N 35.8E - Google Maps
Image of PM-138 on her way to Tartus to replace Amur Class (PM-56)
PM-138 Russian Floating Workshop Passing Through Bosphorus |
The following website is excellent for keeping track of Russian Navy movements through the Turkish Straits.
Russian Warship Movements Through Turkish Straits (Part 15) |