Camouflaged ships and fake planes – how Russia’s protecting its Black Sea Fleet and airbases
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was once considered mighty but with a growing threat from Ukrainian attacks, Moscow has turned to a First World War strategy to protect it.
Despite not having a navy itself, Ukraine has managed to carry out a series of successful attacks including strikes on Russia’s Black Sea navy HQ in Sevastopol in September and its 612ft flagship Moskva last April.
Sky News has found Russia has painted five of the fleet’s ships including its flagship Admiral Makarov over the past two months in what analysts describe as an attempt to protect the “vulnerable” fleet.
The Black Sea Fleet (BSF) has around 30 warships and is primarily based in Sevastopol in occupied Crimea.
The flagship Admiral Makarov. Pic: A. Brichevsky
We found the bow and stern of five warships including the Admiral Makarov – which became the fleet’s flagship after the sinking of the Moskva – were painted navy blue or black between 26 May and 4 July this year.
Experts suggest the painting of Makarov, its sister ship Admiral Essen, Ivan Gobulets, Muromets and Grayvoron aims to visually distract Ukrainian threats including sea drones, and to make the vessels appear smaller.
Ukraine has boasted about its use of sea drones – the unmanned nimble vessels that carry explosives and travel on the surface of the water – which have been used in attacks in Crimea.
We compared archive images of the five ships and more recent pictures posted on a Russian Telegram channel linked to KCHF.ru – the fleet’s website.
We’re unable to prove the exact date that these boats were painted but based our timeline on the dates the images were posted online.
Open-source researchers previously pointed out that the painted Admiral Essen can also be seen in satellite imagery. The ship contains an 8 Kalibr land missile – which has been regularly used against Ukraine during the war.
Analysts say this is a “new form of dazzle painting” – a decoy technique using irregular patterns and colours, which was first used in the First World War to help offer protection from German boats at sea.
Before and after images of two of the painted ships Admiral Makarov (top) and Ivan Gobulets (bottom). Pics: A. Brichevsky
Analysts say painting either side of the boat attempts to present it as smaller than it is – hiding key features like helipads.
While naval decoy is not new, it does tell us something about the threat Ukraine is posing.
Defence and security analyst Professor Michael Clarke said: “It’s sensible idea, but Russia didn’t think its fleet would be in that position. They’re having to go back to some old traditional methods.
“I didn’t think the BSF would be under so much pressure. The fact the Ukrainians have made it vulnerable, we didn’t expect it at the start of the war.”
He adds that it’s a cheap tactic and can buy Russian forces extra time to shoot down incoming missiles if drones fall for the visual distraction, but it has “declining effectiveness”.
The painted bow of the Admiral Essen taken on 19th June in Sevastopol. Pic: Planet Labs PBC
Ukraine has access to drones that use radar signature and infrared signals so in some cases, a coat of paint won’t make a difference to detection.
Painting planes on tarmac
But Russia hasn’t stopped at naval camouflage – it’s also used the decoy technique to try to protect its airbases – even ones close to Moscow.
Satellite imagery previously highlighted by open-source researchers has shown that Russia has painted several aircraft on the ground at airbases to try to trick Ukrainian drones.
Images taken at Engels and Yeysk airbases and an S400 missile launcher base over the past few months show aircraft including Tu-95 strategic bombers painted onto the tarmac.
The S400 base in the Timiryazevsky District is only roughly 10km from the heart of Moscow.
Satellite image shows tyres on planes at Engles airbase on 28 August. Pic: Maxar Technologies
Raphael S. Cohen, Director of Strategy & Doctrine Program, Project Air Force at RAND said: “The war is coming closer to home for Russia. The fact that it merits a Russian response shows you should view this as a measure of effectiveness for the Ukrainians.
“If you’re causing the Russians to worry about their base defences such that they’re taking the time to camouflage, then you’ve clearly thrown them off balance.”
Satellite images have also shown tyres placed on the top of aircraft at Engels airbase which analysts suggest may be used to prevent damage to the aircraft from nearby explosions.
The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.
Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy has met Israel’s prime minister in an effort to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza before the president-elect takes office on 20 January.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed details of the meeting with Steve Witkoff on Saturday, adding that the head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency has been deployed to Qatar in order to “advance” talks.
It was not immediately clear when David Barnea would travel to Doha for the latest round of indirect discussions between Israel and Hamas.
Earlier on Saturday, an Israeli official said some progress had been made, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to reach a deal in Gaza.
Ronen Bar (left), director of Israel’s security agency, and David Barnea (right), head of Mossad, at a ceremony marking the 7 October Hamas attack. File pic: Reuters
The mediators are making renewed efforts to halt fighting in Gaza and free the remaining Israeli hostages held there before Mr Trump takes office.
A deal would also involve the release of some Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Families of Israeli hostages welcomed Mr Netanyahu’s decision to dispatch the officials, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters describing it as a “historic opportunity”.
Mr Witkoff arrived in Doha on Friday and met the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s foreign ministry said.
Egyptian and Qatari mediators received reassurances from Mr Witkoff that the US would continue to work towards a fair deal to end the war soon, Egyptian security sources said, though no further details were released.
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Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed across its borders in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Families of the roughly 100 hostages still held in Gaza are pressing Mr Netanyahu to reach a deal to bring their loved ones home.
Since then, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with much of the area destroyed and gripped by a humanitarian crisis, with most of its population displaced.
Pope Francis has been honoured with America’s highest civilian award by President Joe Biden, who has described the pontiff as “a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world”.
It is the first time Mr Biden, 82, has given the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction during his four years in office.
In a statement, the White House said the award is “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours”.
Mr Biden had been scheduled to present the medal to Pope Francis, 88, in person on Saturday in Rome on what was to be the final overseas trip of his presidency. But the president cancelled his visit to monitor the California wildfires.
The White House said Mr Biden bestowed the award during a phone call in which they also discussed efforts to promote peace and alleviate suffering around the world.
President Joe Biden presented Bono with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Pic: AP
Denzel Washington was also recognised. Pic: AP
Michael J Fox was bestowed with the honour. Pic: AP
The award can be presented with or without distinction.
Mr Biden presented the medal of freedom – without distinction – on 5 January to several people including fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, humanitarian and U2 singer Bono, fashion designer Ralph Lauren and actors Michael J Fox and Denzel Washington.
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Mr Biden himself is a recipient of the award with distinction, recognised when he was vice president by then president Barack Obama in a surprise ceremony eight years ago.
Barack Obama presented Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction in 2017. File pic: AP
The citation for the pope’s honour said his “mission of serving the poor has never ceased”.
“A loving pastor, he joyfully answers children’s questions about God. A challenging teacher, he commands us to fight for peace and protect the planet. A welcoming leader, he reaches out to different faiths,” it added.
Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
The injured pair are now in Kyiv and communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, he said.
Ukrainian special forces and paratroopers captured the North Koreans, Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
“As with all prisoners of war, these two North Korean soldiers are receiving the necessary medical assistance,” he said.
“I have instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to grant journalists access to these prisoners.
“The world needs to know the truth about what is happening.”
Mr Zelenskyy said capturing the soldiers alive was “not easy”. He also claimed Russian and North Korean forces fighting in Kursk have tried to conceal the presence of North Korean soldiers, including by killing wounded comrades on the battlefield to avoid their capture and interrogation by Ukraine.
The post included images of the two men – one with a bandage around his jaw and the other around both hands and wrists – and what appeared to be a Russian military document.
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Ukraine’s security service SBU on Saturday provided further details.
It said one of those detained had no documents at all, while the other had been carrying a Russian military ID card in the name of a man from Tuva, a Russian region bordering Mongolia.
“The prisoners do not speak Ukrainian, English or Russian, so communication with them takes place through Korean translators in cooperation with South Korean intelligence,” a statement said.
One of the soldiers claimed he had been told he was going to Russia for training, rather than to fight against Ukraine, according to the SBU.
The agency added both men are being provided with medical care in line with the Geneva Conventions, and investigated “in cooperation with South Korean intelligence”.
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North Korean regular troops entered the war on Russia’s side in October, according to Ukraine and its Western allies.
US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence assessments suggest up to 12,000 North Korean combat troops have been sent by Pyongyang under a pact with Moscow.
They believe North Korea has also been supplying Russia with vast quantities of artillery shells.
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