PARIS — A distress signal was recently sent out from the Russian spy ship, Kildin, instructing nearby vessels to maintain their distance due to the ship’s dire situation. The message declared, “Warship on your course… I am drifting. I’m not under command.” This incident took place on January 23 off the Syrian coast, where the Kildin was spotted struggling with flames and dark smoke billowing from its smokestack, according to military sources.
Audio recordings of the transmission, along with visual documentation of the fire, were reportedly obtained from a nearby NATO vessel, as confirmed by three military officials who spoke under anonymity. These officials highlighted that this incident has not been publicly addressed by Russian authorities.
The released audio offers a rare glimpse into Russia’s fleet of surveillance ships, which NATO countries meticulously monitor due to evolving concerns about potential sabotage of vital underwater cables and pipelines in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Despite the Kildin’s predicament, it reportedly did not respond to a help offer from the NATO ship.
Recently, the United Kingdom also tracked another Russian spy ship, Yantar, within the English Channel. The UK Defense Ministry reported that Yantar was surveilling crucial undersea infrastructure, prompting a Royal Navy submarine to surface nearby to signal that its movements were being closely observed.
As for the Kildin, a vessel with 55 years of service, it is primarily tasked with gathering intelligence on NATO activities in the Mediterranean. Before the emergency, the Kildin had been engaged in operations near Turkish naval exercises. Military officials stated that the fire raged for over four hours, during which the crew prepared lifeboats but did not launch any. The ship also displayed two black balls from its masts, signaling that it was incapacitated.
Eventually, the crew managed to regain control of the Kildin, which continues to remain stationed off the Syrian port of Tartus, supported by a frigate and a supply ship. The exact cause of the blaze remains unclear.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed to be unaware of any fire on the Kildin and did not clarify the ship’s activities at the time. He criticized the notion that a single ship’s malfunction might reflect on the overall readiness of the Russian navy. “Judging the fleet’s condition based on one specific incident is not a professional approach,” he stated.
Retired Vice Admiral Michel Olhagaray, who previously led France’s center for military studies, commented on the situation, noting that while the ship regained command, the fire underscores the logistical challenges Russia faces in maintaining naval assets in the Mediterranean, specifically far from their principal bases in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea. Additionally, due to the war in Ukraine, Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet cannot conduct patrols in the Mediterranean, as Turkey has restricted the passage of warships through the Bosporus Strait.
“The complexity of sustaining this Russian fleet, especially in the Mediterranean, cannot be overstated,” Olhagaray remarked.
The audio signals captured from the NATO vessel comprise a 75-second exchange between the Kildin and a Togolese cargo ship, Milla Moon. A second audio recording reveals conversations among the NATO crew regarding the situation they were monitoring, indicating the Kildin’s interaction with the other vessel.
Data from ship-tracking services revealed that on the day of the fire, Milla Moon had set sail from Tartus and commenced heading north along the Syrian coastline. During its broadcast, the Kildin initially identified itself as another ship, the Sky, before requesting a communication change to continue the dialogue. Following this transition, the individual aboard the Kildin, speaking with a discernible accent, identified his ship as a warship.
“Motor vessel Milla Moon, this is a warship on your course,” he stated, and urged the cargo ship to steer clear. “I am drifting. I’m not under command,” he added, to which Milla Moon acknowledged by promising to alter its course before signing off with, “You are welcome. Good watch. Goodbye.”
