Russia stations Northern Fleet warship Admiral Levchenko near German island Fehmarn
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Russia has positioned its Northern Fleet's large anti-submarine ship Admiral Levchenko off Germany's Fehmarn island. The vessel was spotted on July 31 and August 1 by German media outlets, including Kieler Nachrichten and Marineforum Online. Moscow has not acknowledged the deployment.
The Sighting
A journalist from the German newspaper Kieler Nachrichten photographed the Admiral Levchenko passing Fehmarn on July 31. The defense-focused platform Marineforum Online published another image of the vessel north of Rostock on August 1. The ship is one of the largest in Russia's Northern Fleet and had not previously been confirmed in the Baltic Sea. Its arrival follows the departure of the sister ship Severomorsk from the same area in late June.
Shadow Fleet Security
German media report the Admiral Levchenko is likely replacing the Severomorsk, which Moscow said had completed a long-distance deployment. The Severomorsk had been patrolling the Fehmarn Belt between Denmark and Germany, a route used by vessels of Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' carrying oil. According to Kieler Nachrichten, the mission was described in Russia as ensuring the safety of civilian shipping. After the Severomorsk left, only the Baltic Fleet corvette Soobrazitelny remained; the Admiral Levchenko's arrival bolsters the Russian naval presence.
Yacht Escort
On its return voyage to its home port, the Severomorsk escorted the superyacht Graceful, which departed Kaliningrad and is linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Graceful, built by a German shipyard, was transferred from Hamburg to Kaliningrad in February 2022, shortly before the invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. placed the yacht on a sanctions list as an asset connected to Russian leadership. Media reports suggest the yacht sailed to Murmansk, though its stated destination was Istanbul, in a move aimed at protecting it from Ukrainian drone attacks.
What's Next
The Russian defense ministry has yet to comment on the Admiral Levchenko's deployment, and its duration remains uncertain. The move may heighten tensions in the Baltic, where NATO has increased its patrols.
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Russia stations Northern Fleet warship Admiral Levchenko near German island Fehmarn
