Fire Breaks Out On Russian Spy Ship Near Syria’s Coast

The Russian spy ship Kildin caught fire last Thursday while it was operating near Syria’s Mediterranean coastline, close to the port of Tartus. The fire lasted about five hours leaving the ship temporarily adrift without manoeuvrability.

Despite offers of assistance from nearby vessels, including a Togolese-flagged cargo ship named Milla Moon, the crew of the Kildin refused to take help from anyone.

The incident reported by U.S.-funded Radio Liberty and France’s RFI, was observed by French naval forces, who monitored the situation but did not intervene. According to an unnamed French naval officer quoted by RFI, “the worst was avoided.”

However, it remains unclear whether the Kildin will be able to continue its intelligence-gathering mission.

The fire, believed to have happened in the engine room or funnel, started at about 1200 GMT and caused thick black smoke and visible flames.

As time passed, the crew signalled their inability to control the ship’s movements by hoisting two black spheres. Despite the severity of the fire, the crew managed to contain it without external assistance.

Reports reveal the crew was preparing for evacuation at one point. However, other Russian ships in the area did not respond to the emergency, and the Milla Moon, which had approached the Kildin was ordered to stay away.

The Kildin is a 55-year-old intelligence ship built in Soviet-controlled Poland and is one of the nine vessels in its series. Its primary role is to gather intelligence and monitor communications. Before the fire, the ship had been surveilling various regions, including France, Italy, Spain and Turkey.

The Kildin was last seen at the port of Tartus on December 17, 2024. Its presence near Tartus is linked to ongoing Russian military activities in the region, particularly after the overthrow of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Satellite images obtained on Monday revealed cargo movements at Russia’s naval base in Tartus, which could be a possible evacuation of military equipment. The equipment, which includes components of the advanced S-400 air defence system, had been stationed at the port for over a month.

Two Russian military cargo vessels, Sparta and Sparta II, were dispatched from the Baltic to Syria in early January. Both ships loitered off the Syrian coast for weeks amid rumours of negotiations between Russia and Syria.

Last week, both vessels berthed at Tartus. The latest satellite imagery shows Sparta II had since departed, with much of the equipment near its berth now removed. The Sparta remains docked, with its staging area filled with containers.

Since the 1970s, Russia has maintained a lease on the northernmost pier at Tartus, its only naval foothold in the Mediterranean.

However, with recent changes in Syria, including the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the withdrawal of Russian forces to Tartus and the Hmeimim airbase, Russia may reconsider its presence in the region.

References: Polskie radio, Daily Wrap