H I Sutton Profile picture
Independent Defense Analysis, Unconventional Naval Warfare, author, submarines, #OSINT, illustrations. Mostly typos

Aug 12, 2022, 9 tweets

*** #OSINT ***

Surprisingly, the Zubr class hovercraft in Feodosia, Crimea, Black Sea, has been moved since the start of the #Ukraine War

The Pr. 12322 Zubr is the largest type in the world

Thread/

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It is at Feodosia 'More' shipyard. This was Ukrainian but was taken over by Russia gov 100% in 2014 when Crimea was annexed.

In 2014 it became part of Rostec. Now in March this year, after the invasion, it was transferred to United Shipbuilding Corporation. No fee

3/
In the past it built many of the Zubrs, including two for China. One of these was rushed off Crimea in 2014 moments before the annexation

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After the #Russian take-over, the shipyard didn't seem to do very well. But it did build Pr.22800 Karakurt-class missile corvettes. These are armed with Kalibr cruise missiles

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Raptor assault boats at the shipyard's harbour, Jan 2017

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The exact hovercraft is likely an Ex-Ukrainian Navy example, possibly U423 Gorlovka. Google Earth history shows that it has been in the open there since at least September 2020. With Sentinel-2 imagery we can say since July 2020 #OSINT

7/
Why has it now been moved? Is it being brought back into service for the #Russian Navy? I don't think so

Possibly to make space for new warships, up to corvette sized, which will be built there

/end

Typo .. In **2018** it became part of Rostec. Same difference though

Forgot to say, it was moved between April 6th and April 9th

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