What Crew Members Say About Bamberg

On May 26, 2026, the reconnaissance vessel 'Oste' departed from the naval base in Eckernförde at precisely 5 p.m. It navigated through the Fehmarn Belt, reaching its destination by 9 p.m., with a mission directed towards the monitoring of Russian naval units. Notably, the crew had opted to deactivate the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to maintain operational stealth. For several weeks now, Russia has been positioning its naval forces within the waters between Fehmarn and Rostock, including the formidable destroyer 'Severomorsk.' Presently, a reconnaissance ship equipped with advanced eavesdropping technologies is stationed off Fehmarn, actively operating in international waters. In response to these developments, the German Federal Police has dispatched the vessels 'Bamberg' and 'Bad Bramstedt' to keep a vigilant eye on the Russian naval fleet. In addition, the Danish Navy has deployed multiple ships patrolling the region between Gedser and the Fehmarn Belt, enhancing surveillance over this strategically significant area.

On October 19, the German patrol vessel 'Bamberg', in collaboration with a Danish patrol boat, commenced monitoring operations on the Russian landing craft known as 'Aleksandr Shabalin'. This vessel was observed dropping anchor east of Fehmarn Island, close to the Staberhuk lighthouse. The heightened vigilance around the 'Aleksandr Shabalin' stems from multiple drone incidents that occurred in August and September, which positioned the landing craft in close proximity to Danish airspace where drones were detected. Although no direct evidence has surfaced connecting the landing craft to these incidents, it has prompted ongoing scrutiny. In September, the 'Aleksandr Shabalin' temporarily anchored west of Fehmarn at the critical intersection of the Kiel-Baltic Sea Route and the Great Belt, southeast of Langeland. This positioning is permissible since it falls outside German territorial waters. The German Navy further reinforced their observation efforts by deploying the tender 'Werra' from Kiel. Additionally, the Russian destroyer 'Vice-Admiral Kulakov' has consistently kept the German Federal Police and Navy alert over the weeks. Having arrived in the Baltic Sea in May from the Northern Fleet in Murmansk, this destroyer has made eight appearances near Fehmarn since bolstering the Baltic Fleet, alternating its presence with the landing craft and a reconnaissance vessel. This pattern of activity raises queries about the underlying reasons for their presence, possibly linked to shadow fleet tankers and military transports by the Russian Navy. Johannes Peters, head of the Maritime Strategy and Security Department at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University, notes that Russian naval operations aim to assert control over specific marine areas, strategically situating themselves in proximity to vital shipping routes. Such maneuvers not only affect military dynamics but also disrupt civilian activities, particularly fishing and marine research. This is evidenced by the Kiel-based research vessels 'Alkor' and 'Littorina', which have had to maintain a cautious distance from Russian military units during ongoing expeditions. For more details, please visit the following reports with photos and videos: [Segel Reporter](https://segelreporter.com/panorama/russisches-landungsschiff-in-luebecker-bucht-was-dahinter-steckt-worauf-segler-achten-sollten/), [T-Online](https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/ausland/krisen/id_100969342/putins-kriegsflotte-marineschiff-aleksandr-shabalin-vor-luebecker-bucht.html).

On October 14, the Danish Home Force, in coordination with German patrol boats 'Bamberg' and 'Rhön 2' (MMSI: 211179240), commenced surveillance of a stricken Russian submarine, 'Novorossiysk', as it navigated cautiously through the Great Belt, seemingly making its way back to St. Petersburg. The submarine, escorted by the salvage tug 'Yakov Grebelskiy', was traveling at a sluggish pace of six to eight knots while emitting thick plumes of smoke. In response, the Danish Navy deployed their own patrol vessels, 'Diana-P 520' (MMSI: 220434000) and 'Najaden P 523' (MMSI: 220434000), to oversee the situation. Reports indicated that the crew of the 'Yakov Grebelskiy' had weapons on standby at the front of their ship during the transit through this busy maritime corridor. The Russian Navy maintained that the submarine was not facing significant issues, despite initial concerns raised in Russian Telegram channels regarding leaks into the vessel's hull and potential explosion risks. For further information and visual documentation, visit: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/das-russische-u-boot-novorossiysk-passiert-den-grossen-belt-DOSAOTKMIBAI7MDMS5GWBDLKY4.html and https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/gwgll9/det-svenske-forsvaret-foelger-russisk-ubaat.