On April 13, Russian Ro-Ro ship Alexandr Tkachenko was spotted carrying military equipment while crossing the Bosporus en route to the Syrian coastal city of Tartus. Photos of the ship taken by Turkish photographer Yoruk Isik revealed that it was carrying at least one Project 03160 Raptor high-speed patrol boat and several BMK-T bridge erection boats along with other military equipment.
Crossing the Rubicon ? Supply & reinforcement for Russia’s #Syria campaign continues: Russian Gov chartered, #Russia flag RoRo Alexandr Tkachenko transits Med-bound Bosphorus en route to #Tartus carrying Project 03160 Raptor, BMK-T bridge erection boat, KamAZ & Ural 4320 trucks. pic.twitter.com/fC3CG5XSaZ
— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) April 13, 2018
The deployment of more BMK-T bridge erection boat to Syria may be a sign that Russia is planning to step up its military presence in the Syrian Arab Army (SAA)-held area on the eastern bank of the Euphrates river. Bridge erection boats of the same type were used by the SAA to cross Euphrates in late 2017.
The Russian military finished constructing a new 156 meters long bridge on the Euphrates river on April 11. This confirms that Russia is interested in protecting the SAA positions on the eastern bank of the river.
Alexandr Tkachenko was the second Russian ship to pass the Bosporus on April 13. Earlier, Alligator-class landing ship Nikolay Filchenkov of the Russian Navy was also spotted passing through the Bosporus on its way to Tartus. The ship was also loaded with military equipment.
Supply & reinforcement for Russia’s #Syria campaign continues amid rising international crisis in Middle East: #ВМФ #ЧФ BSF Tapir class LST Nikolai Filchenkov 152 transits Med-bound Bosphorus en route to #Tartus #Syria for its first deployment in 2018 after 7months of repairs. pic.twitter.com/fzgDXWKQDl
— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) April 13, 2018
Earlier Syrian sources expected that Russia may deploy more military equipment in Syria in response to the recent US actions aimed at escalating the situation in the region.
