A Russian Navy destroyer has been observed escorting two cargo vessels near the Portuguese coast, raising concerns about the intended destinations and nature of the mission.
According to open-source intelligence analyst Russian Forces Spotter, the convoy—consisting of the sanctioned vessels MYS ZHELANIYA and SPARTA IV, accompanied by the Severomorsk destroyer—was detected south of Portugal on January 9.
The ships have officially declared Port Said, Egypt, as their destination. However, historical route data indicates that SPARTA IV often proceeds to the Russian naval facility in Tartus, Syria, after declaring Egypt as its destination. The movement of MYS ZHELANIYA suggests potential docking in Libya, though this remains unconfirmed.
MYS ZHELANIYA near the coast of Portugal, January 2026. (Source: Russian Forces Spotter)
AIS trajectory data and route analysis indicate efforts to obscure or complicate tracking of the convoy’s true objectives. Both vessels are known for employing ambiguous route declarations, particularly when supporting Russian military and infrastructure operations abroad.
The Severomorsk, a Udaloy-class destroyer of Russia’s Northern Fleet, is providing direct escort—an uncommon practice for civilian cargo transit in this region. The destroyer’s involvement points to the strategic or sensitive nature of the cargo.
Russian Navy’s Severomorsk anti-submarine warfare ship. (Source: Russian Defense Ministry)
The Severomorsk, commissioned in 1988 and equipped with anti-submarine and surface engagement weaponry, has previously participated in joint exercises with the US Navy, but now operates largely in support of Russian overseas logistics.
The cargo ships are owned or operated by companies currently under Western sanctions. SPARTA IV is managed by SC-South LLC, a subsidiary of Oboronlogistika LLC—a company tasked with meeting the Russian Ministry of Defense’s transport and logistical needs. This firm is part of Russia’s military-industrial supply network.
MYS ZHELANIYA is affiliated with Transstroy LLC and Eco Shipping LLC, both of which are subject to sanctions. These companies are active in Arctic infrastructure development, including logistics support for the Arctic LNG-2 project operated by Novatek, a Russian energy company also under international sanctions.
This is not the first time Russia has deployed military escorts to safeguard maritime assets. In early January 2026, the Marinera—a Russian-flagged oil tanker previously known as Bella 1—was seized by US forces in the Caribbean, despite being shadowed by a Russian submarine and support vessels. The tanker was part of Russian shadow fleet suspected of transporting sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian oil.
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