PARIS — A disconcerting situation unfolded recently involving a Russian spy vessel, the Kildin, which found itself in distress off the coast of Syria. During the incident, the crew alerted another passing ship via radio, declaring their precarious situation and urging the other vessel to maintain a safe distance. “Warship on your course,” the voice communicated. “I am drifting. I’m not under command.” This alarming transmission was captured and reported by military officials who detailed the fire and chaos surrounding the ship at that time.
Audio recordings, with accompanying visual evidence, displayed flames and black smoke billowing from the Kildin. It was revealed that these materials were obtained by a NATO ship operating in the vicinity. According to officials from a NATO country, the Russian authorities have not issued any official statements regarding the incident. This situation offers a rare glimpse into the operations of Russia’s naval fleet, which is of heightened concern to NATO nations amid fears of potential sabotage targeting critical underwater infrastructure during ongoing tensions related to the war in Ukraine.
Despite the perilous condition of the Kildin, officials indicated that the vessel refused assistance from the NATO ship nearby. The crew instead hoisted two black balls from the ship’s masts, a traditional maritime indication of loss of steering capability. Earlier, the Kildin had been involved in intelligence collection pertaining to NATO activities in the Mediterranean region and had been noted near Turkish naval exercises prior to the incident. Reports suggest the fire raged for several hours, prompting the crew to prepare lifeboats but not to deploy them.
Eventually, the crew managed to regain control of the vessel, which is currently stationed off the Syrian port of Tartus alongside two accompanying ships. The cause of the fire remains uncertain. In response to inquiries about the unfortunate event involving the Kildin, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed ignorance of any fire aboard the vessel, and he downplayed its implications for the state of the Russian navy. He emphasized that assessing the fleet’s overall readiness based on the malfunction of a single ship would be unprofessional.
Retired Admiral Michel Olhagaray, who previously headed France’s center for higher military studies, noted that while the Kildin had successfully regained control, such incidents shed light on the logistical challenges faced by Russia in sustaining naval operations far from its home bases in the Arctic and the Baltic regions. Compounding the issue, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in Turkey restricting the passage of Russian warships through the Bosporus Strait, further complicating Moscow’s Mediterranean patrol capabilities.
Military officials reported that the audio captured during the incident consisted of a 75-second exchange between the Kildin and a Togolese-flagged cargo ship known as the Milla Moon. This includes an exchange in which the Kildin initially misidentified itself, attempting to switch communication channels before clarifying its warship status. Monitoring reports reveal that the Milla Moon had lifted anchor off Tartus and was navigating northward along the Syrian coastline on the same day the Kildin experienced its fire.
During the radio exchange, the Kildin’s crew urged the Milla Moon to steer clear of their vessel, reiterating their dangerous drifting state. The Milla Moon acknowledged this, confirming it would chart a course away, concluding the conversation cordially. This incident highlights the vulnerabilities and challenges involved in naval operations in turbulent geopolitical waters.
