spectre crouton
@spectrecrouton.bsky.social
Deep diving, original analysis and reporting on the Russian Navy and related maritime topics. Views expressed do not reflect those of my current or past employers, nor do they reflect the views of Vova (you know which one).
RF Navy Baltic Fleet Amur-class repair ship PM-82 possibly departed Baltiysk during the evening hours on 5 October [based on metadata analysis]
- PM-82 could be en route to the North Sea to resupply Neustrashimyy
- PM-82 could be en route to the North Sea to resupply Neustrashimyy
October 6, 2026 at 11:01 AM
RF Navy Baltic Fleet Amur-class repair ship PM-82 possibly departed Baltiysk during the evening hours on 5 October [based on metadata analysis]
- PM-82 could be en route to the North Sea to resupply Neustrashimyy
- PM-82 could be en route to the North Sea to resupply Neustrashimyy
Future RF Navy Pacific Fleet Uragan-class missile patrol ship Udomlya departed Amur Shipyard (under tow) on 30 September en route to Vladivostok for outfitting and sea trials
October 5, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Future RF Navy Pacific Fleet Uragan-class missile patrol ship Udomlya departed Amur Shipyard (under tow) on 30 September en route to Vladivostok for outfitting and sea trials
Crappy/lazy RUS>ENG translation on this display [more coherent translation of the upper portion included]:
- some system names translated (Оникс > Onyx), some not (Кинжал > ???)
- some abbreviations translated (БПЛА > UAV), some not (ГАК > ???)
- Зенитная артиллерия > Artillery Flak (really???)
- some system names translated (Оникс > Onyx), some not (Кинжал > ???)
- some abbreviations translated (БПЛА > UAV), some not (ГАК > ???)
- Зенитная артиллерия > Artillery Flak (really???)
October 3, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Crappy/lazy RUS>ENG translation on this display [more coherent translation of the upper portion included]:
- some system names translated (Оникс > Onyx), some not (Кинжал > ???)
- some abbreviations translated (БПЛА > UAV), some not (ГАК > ???)
- Зенитная артиллерия > Artillery Flak (really???)
- some system names translated (Оникс > Onyx), some not (Кинжал > ???)
- some abbreviations translated (БПЛА > UAV), some not (ГАК > ???)
- Зенитная артиллерия > Artillery Flak (really???)
RF Navy Northern Fleet Slava-class cruiser Marshal Ustinov departed port midday on 29 September and remains underway through today
- ship has amassed at least 68 underway days since 23 February 2026
- ship has amassed at least 68 underway days since 23 February 2026
October 3, 2026 at 3:21 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Slava-class cruiser Marshal Ustinov departed port midday on 29 September and remains underway through today
- ship has amassed at least 68 underway days since 23 February 2026
- ship has amassed at least 68 underway days since 23 February 2026
RF Navy Northern Fleet Vishnya-class intelligence collection ship Viktor Leonov (SSV-175) departed port on 22 September and remains underway through today (2 October)
- previous underway: 1 April 2025-11 June 2026 (intelligence collection mission + repairs)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- previous underway: 1 April 2025-11 June 2026 (intelligence collection mission + repairs)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
October 2, 2026 at 9:38 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Vishnya-class intelligence collection ship Viktor Leonov (SSV-175) departed port on 22 September and remains underway through today (2 October)
- previous underway: 1 April 2025-11 June 2026 (intelligence collection mission + repairs)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- previous underway: 1 April 2025-11 June 2026 (intelligence collection mission + repairs)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
Following a brief in-port period, RF Navy Northern Fleet Yantar-class special-purpose auxiliary vessel Yantar departed port by midday on 30 September and remains underway through today
previous underway: 31 August-27 September
previous underway: 31 August-27 September
October 2, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Following a brief in-port period, RF Navy Northern Fleet Yantar-class special-purpose auxiliary vessel Yantar departed port by midday on 30 September and remains underway through today
previous underway: 31 August-27 September
previous underway: 31 August-27 September
RF Navy Northern Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 24 September and remains underway through today (1 October)
- previous underway: 17-20 September (local training)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- previous underway: 17-20 September (local training)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
October 1, 2026 at 2:37 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 24 September and remains underway through today (1 October)
- previous underway: 17-20 September (local training)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- previous underway: 17-20 September (local training)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 27 September and remains underway through today (1 October)
- previous underway: 30 August-24 September (patrol)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- previous underway: 30 August-24 September (patrol)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
October 1, 2026 at 2:31 PM
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 27 September and remains underway through today (1 October)
- previous underway: 30 August-24 September (patrol)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- previous underway: 30 August-24 September (patrol)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
RF Navy deployment stats: ships deployed at least one day in 2026 + total days deployed through 30 September 2026
September 30, 2026 at 7:59 PM
RF Navy deployment stats: ships deployed at least one day in 2026 + total days deployed through 30 September 2026
For the fourth time in 2026, President Putin has ordered an increase in Armed Forces military service member end strength
- total end strength increased by 15,500 troops; civilian end strength unchanged
- in 2026, total end strength has increased by 52,500 troops: 50,500 troops + 2,000 civilians)
- total end strength increased by 15,500 troops; civilian end strength unchanged
- in 2026, total end strength has increased by 52,500 troops: 50,500 troops + 2,000 civilians)
September 30, 2026 at 5:05 PM
For the fourth time in 2026, President Putin has ordered an increase in Armed Forces military service member end strength
- total end strength increased by 15,500 troops; civilian end strength unchanged
- in 2026, total end strength has increased by 52,500 troops: 50,500 troops + 2,000 civilians)
- total end strength increased by 15,500 troops; civilian end strength unchanged
- in 2026, total end strength has increased by 52,500 troops: 50,500 troops + 2,000 civilians)
Japan-U.S. joint Exercise KEEN SWORD 27 to be held 19-29 October
- Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Philippines to join
- approx. 45,000 personnel, 6,100 vehicles, 40 vessels, 260 aircraft
** anticipate RF military surveillance **
www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2026/...
- Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Philippines to join
- approx. 45,000 personnel, 6,100 vehicles, 40 vessels, 260 aircraft
** anticipate RF military surveillance **
www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2026/...
September 29, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Japan-U.S. joint Exercise KEEN SWORD 27 to be held 19-29 October
- Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Philippines to join
- approx. 45,000 personnel, 6,100 vehicles, 40 vessels, 260 aircraft
** anticipate RF military surveillance **
www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2026/...
- Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Philippines to join
- approx. 45,000 personnel, 6,100 vehicles, 40 vessels, 260 aircraft
** anticipate RF military surveillance **
www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2026/...
RF Navy Northern Fleet Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port during afternoon hours on 31 August and remains underway through today
- this may be the same submarine that deployed 20 April-28 June
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- this may be the same submarine that deployed 20 April-28 June
bsky.app/profile/spec...
September 27, 2026 at 4:38 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Severodvinsk-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port during afternoon hours on 31 August and remains underway through today
- this may be the same submarine that deployed 20 April-28 June
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- this may be the same submarine that deployed 20 April-28 June
bsky.app/profile/spec...
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 21 September and remains underway through today
September 25, 2026 at 3:09 PM
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 21 September and remains underway through today
Interesting: This photo of Putin, looking old and/or tired and/or forlorn, was released by the Kremlin (23 Sep) and republished by RF MOD official newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda (24 Sep), followed by Baltic, Black Sea, and Northern Fleet newspapers (25 Sep) - but not by the Pacific Fleet newspaper
September 25, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Interesting: This photo of Putin, looking old and/or tired and/or forlorn, was released by the Kremlin (23 Sep) and republished by RF MOD official newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda (24 Sep), followed by Baltic, Black Sea, and Northern Fleet newspapers (25 Sep) - but not by the Pacific Fleet newspaper
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Slava-class missile cruiser Varyag and Nedelin-class command ship Marshal Krylov departed Vladivostok on 22 September and conducted eastbound transits of the La Perouse Strait on 23 September
www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2026/...
www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2026/...
September 24, 2026 at 11:31 AM
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Slava-class missile cruiser Varyag and Nedelin-class command ship Marshal Krylov departed Vladivostok on 22 September and conducted eastbound transits of the La Perouse Strait on 23 September
www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2026/...
www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2026/...
RF Coast Guard Svetlyak-class patrol craft Almaz - before (July 2023) and after (September 2026)
September 23, 2026 at 10:57 PM
RF Coast Guard Svetlyak-class patrol craft Almaz - before (July 2023) and after (September 2026)
RF Navy Northern Fleet Slava-class cruiser Marshal Ustinov returned to port following a two-week underway period (8-23 September)
September 23, 2026 at 10:08 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Slava-class cruiser Marshal Ustinov returned to port following a two-week underway period (8-23 September)
In May 2025, RF MOD sued Banner Shipyard (Rybinsk) seeking RUB 2,690,774,271). Court proceedings have been closed to the public, and court rulings have been redacted. Although the case remains under appeal, it is unlikely the public will soon (if ever) know the full scope and nature of the case.
September 22, 2026 at 4:26 PM
In May 2025, RF MOD sued Banner Shipyard (Rybinsk) seeking RUB 2,690,774,271). Court proceedings have been closed to the public, and court rulings have been redacted. Although the case remains under appeal, it is unlikely the public will soon (if ever) know the full scope and nature of the case.
RF Navy Deployed Days in 2026 (as of 20 September) = 8,569
- ships/subs currently deployed (on 10 September): 32
- daily average of ships/subs deployed (1 January-20 September): 33
- daily number of ships/subs deployed (1 January-20 September): lowest = 22 / highest = 37
- ships/subs currently deployed (on 10 September): 32
- daily average of ships/subs deployed (1 January-20 September): 33
- daily number of ships/subs deployed (1 January-20 September): lowest = 22 / highest = 37
September 21, 2026 at 7:45 PM
RF Navy Deployed Days in 2026 (as of 20 September) = 8,569
- ships/subs currently deployed (on 10 September): 32
- daily average of ships/subs deployed (1 January-20 September): 33
- daily number of ships/subs deployed (1 January-20 September): lowest = 22 / highest = 37
- ships/subs currently deployed (on 10 September): 32
- daily average of ships/subs deployed (1 January-20 September): 33
- daily number of ships/subs deployed (1 January-20 September): lowest = 22 / highest = 37
RF Navy Black Sea Fleet Grigorovich-class missile frigate departed port (Baltiysk) during the afternoon hours on 19 September and remains underway through today
- previous underway period: 12-15 September
- previous underway period: 12-15 September
September 21, 2026 at 4:15 PM
RF Navy Black Sea Fleet Grigorovich-class missile frigate departed port (Baltiysk) during the afternoon hours on 19 September and remains underway through today
- previous underway period: 12-15 September
- previous underway period: 12-15 September
RF Navy Northern Fleet Udaloy I-class destroyer Severomorsk returned to port after four-day underway period (17-20 September)
- Severomorsk may have conducted coordinated training with Kilo submarine + Vitse-Admiral Kulakov (underway same dates)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- Severomorsk may have conducted coordinated training with Kilo submarine + Vitse-Admiral Kulakov (underway same dates)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
bsky.app/profile/spec...
September 20, 2026 at 11:32 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Udaloy I-class destroyer Severomorsk returned to port after four-day underway period (17-20 September)
- Severomorsk may have conducted coordinated training with Kilo submarine + Vitse-Admiral Kulakov (underway same dates)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
bsky.app/profile/spec...
- Severomorsk may have conducted coordinated training with Kilo submarine + Vitse-Admiral Kulakov (underway same dates)
bsky.app/profile/spec...
bsky.app/profile/spec...
RF Navy Northern Fleet Udaloy I-class destroyer Vitse-Admiral Kulakov returned to port after four-day underway period (17-20 September)
September 20, 2026 at 2:49 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Udaloy I-class destroyer Vitse-Admiral Kulakov returned to port after four-day underway period (17-20 September)
RF Navy Northern Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] returned to port after four-day underway period (17-20 September)
September 20, 2026 at 1:49 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] returned to port after four-day underway period (17-20 September)
RF Navy Northern Fleet Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 14 September and remains underway through today
September 19, 2026 at 1:33 PM
RF Navy Northern Fleet Dolgorukiy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 14 September and remains underway through today
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 30 August and remains underway through today (18 September)
September 18, 2026 at 4:07 PM
RF Navy Pacific Fleet Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine [specific hull unknown] departed port on 30 August and remains underway through today (18 September)