Norway’s corvette Storm is currently monitoring three Russian warships from the Baltic Fleet as they sail off the country’s west coast in international waters.
The Russian vessels are participating in the ongoing strategic naval exercise Okean-2024, which has seen a marked increase in both naval and aerial activity near Norway.
The Norwegian Armed Forces confirmed that the ships being tracked by Storm include two Steregushchiy-class corvettes and one Ropucha-class landing ship. According to Norwegian officials, these movements are part of the larger Okean-2024 exercise, which was announced by Russia last December.
“The Russian Navy has now started exercise Okean. The exercise results in increased activity from both the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet in our immediate areas, in addition to long-haul aircraft. We were prepared for this, and we have planned to follow Russian movements together with our allies,” said Vice-Admiral Rune Andersen, head of Norway’s Armed Forces operational headquarters (JHQ).
The Okean-2024 exercise comes after Russia canceled last year’s planned Zapad-2023 drills. This year’s operations involve various naval units, including those from the Northern and Baltic Fleets, with increased activity observed in the Barents Sea and other strategic locations.
In addition to Russia’s exercises in the Arctic, China’s Defense Ministry recently announced that Chinese naval and air units will conduct joint exercises with Russia in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk later this month under the name “Northern United 2024.” Beijing has also confirmed its participation in Russia’s Okean-2024 exercises, though no Chinese warships have been reported in the European part of Russia’s Arctic.