A Russian spy ship caught fire off Syria’s coast on Jan. 23, temporarily drifting out of control with flames and thick black smoke rising from its smokestack, military officials said. A radio transmission intercepted by a NATO vessel captured a man’s urgent instructions: “Warship on your course. I am drifting. I’m not under command.”
The Kildin, a 55-year-old intelligence-gathering vessel, had been operating near Turkish naval exercises when the fire broke out, burning for at least four hours. Its crew uncovered lifeboats but never deployed them, signaling distress with black balls on its mast. Eventually, control was restored, and the Kildin resumed operations off Syria’s Tartus port, escorted by a frigate and a supply ship.
The Associated Press obtained audio, video, and photos of the incident from a NATO ship that monitored the blaze. Despite its distress, the Kildin refused an offer of assistance, reflecting Russia’s secrecy around its surveillance fleet. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the fire as insignificant, rejecting concerns over Russia’s naval readiness.
Military analysts say the incident underscores Russia’s logistical challenges in maintaining Mediterranean operations, particularly after Turkey blocked Black Sea Fleet warships from passing through the Bosporus due to the Ukraine war.
The intercepted audio also revealed the Kildin initially misidentified itself to a nearby cargo ship before switching channels and acknowledging its status as a warship. The NATO vessel monitoring the exchange did not interfere but recorded the events as tensions over Russian naval activities remain high.
Source: AP
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
