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Syrian Express

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The Syrian Express is the name used to describe the regular supply voyages through the Bosporus[1] to Ba'athist Syria, in particular using amphibious warfare ships of the Russian Navy, that were made during the Syrian civil war (2011–2024).[2][3] Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 the Turkish authorities were persuaded to implement terms of the Montreux convention, banning the passage of further military vessels through the Bosporus.[4] With the fall of the Syrian regime the change in nature of the Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war will lead to a further change in the nature of the traffic using this route.[5]

Name

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The supply route to Syria was dubbed the "Syrian Express" by Russian sailors[6] after its launch in 2012.[7] Presumably, it is a reference to the Imperial Japanese Navy's Tokyo Express, supplying Japanese forces during the Guadalcanal campaign in the Pacific theater of World War II.[8]

Ships involved

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Black Sea Fleet

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197th Landing Ship Brigade

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Others
  • Kyzyl-60 (ex-Smyrna, Turkey)
  • Kazan-60 (ex–Georgy Agafonov, Ukraine)
  • Vologda-50 (ex-Dadali, Turkey)
  • Dvinitsa-50 (ex–Alican Deval, Turkey)

Baltic Fleet

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Northern Fleet

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Civilian vessels

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  • MV Alexander Tkachenko

Other logistic vessels

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References

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  1. ^ "Russia forced to resupply Syrian base bypassing Europe — Ukrainian Navy". Espreso TV. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Mereväebaas Süürias kinnistab Venemaa kanda Vahemerel" [Naval base in Syria consolidates Russia's foothold in the Mediterranean Sea]. Postimees (in Estonian). Agence France-Presse; Baltic News Service. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Syrian Express on the NATO Flank". Russia Monitor. Warsaw Institute. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Turkey, overseeing passage to Black Sea, calls Russian invasion 'war'". MSN News. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022.
  5. ^ Åtland, Kristian (3 April 2021). "Redrawing borders, reshaping orders: Russia's quest for dominance in the Black Sea region". doi:10.1080/09662839.2021.1872546#d1e537. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  6. ^ Gorbenko, Aleksandr (15 May 2013). "Ещё одна победа России в сирийской войне: три официальных визита ради спасения террористов" [Another Victory for Russia in the Syrian War: Three Official Visits to Save Terrorists]. Odnako (in Russian). Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  7. ^ Moss, Richard A. (October 2023). "The Syrian Express and a Russian String of Pearls?". Journal of Peace and War Studies (5th ed.): 105–124. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  8. ^ Kollakowski, Tobias (2023). Early 21st Century Russian Naval Strategy at Europe's Southern Maritime Flank: Continental Power, Fleet Design and Naval Operations (PDF) (PhD thesis). King's College London. p. 238. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
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