Caspian Flotilla will not be relocated from Astrakhan

02.03.2009
Information about the relocation of the Caspian Flotilla from Astrakhan to Makhachkala has nothing to do with reality, said Captain First Class Igor Dygalo, an aide to the commander of the Russian Navy.

Some media outlets have published information alleging that the headquarters of the Caspian Flotilla had chosen Makhachkala as its main base and that a new strike group was being set up. Such modernization, allegedly, will do away with the imbalance in the dislocation of the ships of the Caspian Flotilla, increase its effectiveness, and reduce fuel usage, Ria Novosti reported citing a source in the Flotilla who refused to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue. The missile ship Tatarstan, currently the most effective unit of the Caspian Flotilla, is based in Makhachkala, while all missile boats are based in Astrakhan. And to carry out combat exercises, the boats have to cover a distance of 180 kilometers on the Volga-Caspian Canal to regroup, said the source.

Such "Pseudo news citing so-called anonymous sources" has begun appearing in the media in relation to the restructuring of the Russian Armed Forces, Dygalo said.

The Caspian Flotilla is based in Astrakhan and protects Russia's national interests in the region of the Caspian Sea, including in the fight against terrorism, the protection of trade routes, as well as the defense of the country's interests in the oil regions. The Flotilla was created by Peter the Great in 1722. It includes today a few brigades and divisions, air units, and coast guards. The 106th Brigade, which is meant to protect water regions; the 327th Guard Division of Surface Ships; the 242nd Assault Ships Division; and the 77th Marines Brigade are all based in Kaspiysk. A division of missile boats is based in Astrakhan, and the Tatarstan and marines are based in Makhachkala. Most of the boats in the Flotilla are obsolete. According to the commander of the Flotilla, Rear Admiral Viktor Kravchik, most of the fleet would be replaced by 2016.

On the picture: The missile ship Tatarstan
Translation: RusNavy.com