Tri-Service

Russian Submarines 'Join Battle Group Heading For Syria'

Three Russian submarines have reportedly joined the country's naval battle group heading towards Syria.

The Royal Navy and NATO are said to have been tracking two Akula-class subs (pictured above) and a diesel-powered Kilo-class boat.

They're believed to have been making their way towards the Russian fleet headed by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier.

A Russian Kilo-class submarine

It is thought the submarines could be armed with Kalibr cruise missiles for use in the assault on the besieged city of Aleppo.

A senior naval source told The Sunday Times:

"The Russians now have submarines in the Med."

It comes after Russia withdrew its request to refuel warships destined for Syria in Spain amid mounting pressure on the Spanish government to block the stop.

The group consists of the Pyotr Velikiy battlecruiser, the Severomorsk anti-submarine ship, the Vice-Admiral Kulakov destroyer and other support vessels, as well as the Kuznetsov.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claimed the Syria-bound fleet could be set to target civilians in Aleppo and launch more airstrikes, although senior Russian Foreign Ministry official Andrei Kelin dismissed this notion as "absurd". He told the RIA news agency:

"The concerns are not based on anything as our planes have not come near Aleppo for nine days. Our battle group is in the Mediterranean. Our ships have always had a presence there. Why make some spurious suggestions and then make some political recommendations based on them? It is of course absurd."

It comes after Russian state media reported late last year that a Kilo-class submarine had appeared close to the Syrian coast, equipped with Russian Kalibr cruise missiles, whilst the country released footage of its submarines launching missiles against Isis targets in Syria.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu Kalibr said cruise missiles were launched from a Rostov-on-Don submarine and successfully hit two "terrorist positions" in Raqqa, about 100 miles (160km) east of Aleppo.

The country previously targeted the group with the same missiles, fired from warships in the Caspian Sea.

A Kalibr-PL cruise missile launched from a submarine

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, meanwhile, has questioned Russia's statements about a temporary halt on bombing Aleppo, saying the city has been hit by strikes since a lull in fighting ended on the weekend.