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How much of a threat is Russia’s growing Pacific Fleet?

Despite the war in Ukraine, Moscow is rapidly adding ships and subs to strengthen its naval presence in East Asia.

Smoke rises above a damaged warship, following a Ukrainian attack in the port of Feodosia, in Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula.

A damaged warship in the port of Feodosiya, in Russian-controlled Crimea, after a Ukrainian attack on Dec 26, 2023.

PHOTO: AFP

James D.J. Brown

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On Dec 26,

Ukrainian forces struck the Novocherkassk

in the port of Feodosia in Russian-occupied Crimea. The cruise-missile attack obliterated the Russian warship, sending a fireball into the night sky. It was just the latest blow against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, whose flagship, the Moskva, was sunk in April 2022.

Twenty per cent of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is estimated to have been destroyed in the past four months of 2023. Yet, 7,000km away in the Russian Far East, the Russian Pacific Fleet goes from strength to strength. This was demonstrated on Dec 11 when President Vladimir Putin oversaw the inauguration of two new nuclear-powered submarines, which are due for deployment in the Pacific.

How much of a threat is Russia’s growing Pacific Fleet?

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