Russian Military Analyst: The Russian Navy will not change the balance of forces in Syria
Russian military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer stated on Radio Krym Realii that Russian warships will not significantly affect the situation in Syria. Commenting on the strengthening of the Russian military group in Syria, Felgenhauer noted that currently the Russian Fleet is struggling for an increase in military expenditures.
“The Russian Fleet has no direct relationship to the Syrian conflict and there is nothing they can do there because Russian warships aren’t meant for such operations. However, the Russian Fleet wants to demonstrate that there is something they are still capable of. Currently, there is a very tough struggle for military funding, which is why they are doing their best. The Fleet’s rearmament program is the most expensive one; there are the most expensive toys. That is why, they are currently struggling not only with other military over the budget but also within the Agency,” Felgenhauer said.
The Russian expert said that there is a life-and-death struggle going on between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance in Moscow.
“The rearmament program is planned to continue until 2025, and its funding should be determined in the middle of the next summer. Until then the military will keep escalating the situation and during this period we cannot rule out direct confrontations with American and Western militaries. That is the determining factor in this life-and-death struggle between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance in Moscow. Of course, there will be intentional provocations in order to make a very dangerous political decision to take money away from children, women, old people, education and science,” Felgenhauer stressed.
On the 31st of October, NATO reported that they are monitoring the movement of two Russian Akula class and Kilo diesel-electric class nuclear submarines. Three combat submarines armed with cruise missiles joined the Russian military naval group off the coast of Syria. Last week, a flotilla of warships from the Russian Northern Fleet headed for the eastern Mediterranean to support the Kremlin’s campaign in Syria, sailed through the English Channel.
The largest warships of the Russian Fleet, the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, and the battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy, as well as escort ships are headed towards the Syrian coast. It was reported that a third Mirazh small missile ship from the Black Sea Fleet was sent from the annexed Sevastopol to the Syrian coast recently as well.
Russia stated that the Flotilla will join the permanent military naval group in the eastern Mediterranean. It is planned that the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier will stay near the Syrian coast for several months and after that it will return to Severomorsk, where the aircraft carrier will make a stop for scheduled maintenance. In late September, the official representative of the Black Sea Fleet reported that the Navy’s operational Mediterranean squadron includes up to 10 warships and vessels.