A Russian ship with an alleged load of military equipment from Syria crossed the Bosphorus

5 March, 2023 

The Russian Sparta IV ship is heading to Syria with a humanitarian cargo, February 2023. Photo credits: Yörük Işık

The Russian Sparta IV cargo ship, which could be transporting equipment and ammunition from Syria, was spotted during the crossing of the Bosphorus.

NavalNews reported about this.

The photo capturing Sparta IV was published by the Turkish researcher Yörük Işık.

The ship passed through the Bosporus during the dark hours.

Sparta VI while crossing the Bosphorus at night on March 4, 2023. Photo credits: Yörük Işık

It is emphasized that the Bosporus Straits is closed for warships, so instead, Russia is using auxiliaries and merchant vessels.

Naval News has evidence indicating that this latest ship, MV Sparta IV, is carrying military vehicles and/or other war supplies. It is expected to unload in Novorossiysk.

Sparta IV is one of four ships owned by SC South LLC, a Russian shipping company involved in transporting military equipment. The company and the ship have been sanctioned by the U.S. Government following the invasion of Ukraine.

Previously, the ship arrived in Tartus in Syria, carrying humanitarian aid following the devastating earthquake. The shipping containers on deck carried aid.

Subsequent to this, Sparta IV was loaded in the Russian naval base at Tartus. The loading process involved military vehicles, and the ship’s large holds were opened during this time.

The vessel had a declared draught of 6.2 meters, suggesting a heavy load as it sailed through the Bosporus. Shipping containers have been placed on the deck, but what is in them, or in the hold, is naturally not visible.

Prior to entering the Bosporus, the ship was escorted by the Russian Navy Project 20380 Steregushchiy class missile corvette. The naval escort supports the assumption that the vessel is carrying sensitive cargo.

It is noted that the Sparta IV is a ship related to the one that transported Russian S-300 missiles from Syria last August. That shipment, on Sparta II, also left from Tartus in Syria and was delivered to Novorossiysk.

It is also emphasized that Sparta IV itself had previously been spotted conducting similar suspected arms deliveries to Novorossiysk.

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/a-russian-ship-with-an-alleged-load-of-military-equipment-from-syria-crossed-the-bosphorus/