Japan spots Russian amphibious ships traveling between its islands
By Mike Yeo
Mar 21, 12:16 PM
The Japanese Defense Ministry has combined two photos of Russian ships it spotted transiting the narrow Tsugaru Strait. From top, the Admiral Nevelskov and the Nikolay Vilkov. (Japan's Defense Ministry)
MELBOURNE, Australia — Japan says Russian amphibious ships transiting through a narrow strait between its islands could be moving fresh forces from Russia’s far east to Ukraine.
Four landing ship tanks, including one with its deck full of military trucks, were seen sailing in the Pacific Ocean westbound in the middle of last week, according to a news release from the Joint Staff’s Public Affairs office within Japan’s Defense Ministry.
The hull numbers on the Russian ships, shown in photographs released by Japan, suggests the ships were the Alligator IV-class Nikolay Vilkov; the Ropucha I-class Oslyabya and Admiral Nevelskov; and the Ropucha II-class Peresvet. All four belong to the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet and make up the entirety of its major amphibious units.
https://www.militarytimes.com/naval/2022/03/21/japan-spots-russian-amphibious-ships-traveling-between-its-islands/
