Mediterranean Sea Task Force
| Permanent task force of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2013–present |
| Country | Russia |
| Allegiance | Russian Armed Forces |
| Branch | Russian Navy |
| Role | Naval warfare Amphibious warfare |
| Size | 15 warships |
| Headquarters | MSTP in Tartus Sevastopol Severomorsk |
| Engagements | Syrian Civil War (Russian intervention) |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Captain 1st rank Pavel Prosekov (interim) |
The permanent task force of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea (Russian: Постоянное оперативное соединение Военно-морского флота Российской Федерации в Средиземном море) is a task force of the Russian Navy responsible for projecting Russian power in the Middle East through the Mediterranean Sea.
The Soviet Navy's 5th Operational Squadron had fulfilled a similar role from its formation in 1967 to its deactivation on 31 December 1992. The present permanent task force was established in 2013.
In September 2013, the Russian Ministry of Defence re-established a fleet in the Mediterranean using a combination of ships from the Black Sea Fleet and Northern Fleet stationed in Syria. It has been reported to comprise 15 warships and auxiliary vessels with vessels from the Baltic Fleet also providing contingents for operations in the region.