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The Russian destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov shadowed the German navy frigate Bayern for several days, starting in the Norwegian Sea and following it all the way to the naval base in Rostock. The incident occurred shortly after NATO's major anti-submarine exercise, Dynamic Mongoose, reports German outlet Bild.
A German Navy frigate Bayern of the Brandenburg-class (F123), and the submarine U33 participated in NATO anti-submarine exercises in the North Atlantic until May 12. After the drills, Bayern began sailing toward Rostock to prepare for the BALTOPS 25 naval exercise, which began on June 3 in the Baltic Sea.
However, the return journey took an unexpected turn when the Russian Udaloy-class destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov broke off from a Russian naval exercise near the Kola Peninsula and began shadowing the German frigate.
According to Bild, Kulakov initially operated alongside another Udaloy-class destroyer, Severomorsk, but then changed course and began persistently trailing Bayern along Norway’s northern coast and into the Baltic Sea. Tensions rose as the two warships approached Danish waters. The Danish Navy intervened, dispatching its frigate Iver Huitfeldt to monitor the Russian ship. Iver Huitfeldt followed Kulakov through the Little Belt Strait — a key access route to the Baltic Sea.
Bayern successfully arrived in Rostock on May 25, but the proximity of a Russian warship to German territorial waters caused concern among NATO allies. Such long-duration shadowing operations are extremely rare. Typically, naval forces issue warnings or escort foreign vessels away from sensitive areas, as in the recent case of HMS Dragon, which pushed a Russian intelligence ship Yuri Ivanov away from the British Hebrides.
Following the incident, Germany’s maritime economy coordinator Christoph Ploß emphasized the clear need to strengthen port and coastal infrastructure security and to accelerate investment in maritime protection. He warned of an increasing Russian maritime threat, citing Moscow’s growing assertiveness in the Baltic Sea — including unauthorized drills, the creation of cordon zones, and the deployment of auxiliary fleets to circumvent Western oil export sanctions.
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The incident reflects a broader trend of Russia increasing its naval presence and monitoring NATO activity even in traditional allied zones. Intelligence reports indicate that Russia has intensified ship rotations in strategic chokepoints such as the GIUK gap, the Skagerrak, and Baltic Sea approaches. According to experts, this strategy is aimed at bolstering deterrence, disrupting NATO logistics, and testing naval readiness. Vice-Admiral Kulakov’s shadowing of Bayern fits squarely into this pattern of aggressive surveillance and pressure tactics.
Bayern is a multi-role Brandenburg-class frigate capable of conducting both anti-submarine and air defense operations. Commissioned in 1996, the ship has a displacement of 4,900 tons. Its armament includes RIM-162 ESSM surface-to-air missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, a 76 mm naval gun, and torpedoes. Advanced sonar systems enable it to engage submarines, supported by a Sea Lynx helicopter used for maritime reconnaissance. Bayern regularly participates in NATO exercises, demonstrating the German Navy’s commitment to joint allied operations.
Vice-Admiral Kulakov is a Udaloy I-class anti-submarine destroyer serving with Russia’s Northern Fleet. Built during the Soviet era in 1981, the ship displaces 7,500 tons. Its armament includes RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers, torpedoes, SS-N-14 anti-submarine missiles, and long-range air defense systems. The vessel is also equipped with a Ka-27 helicopter. Despite its age, Kulakov remains in active use, often deployed by Russia to assert military presence in contested maritime regions.
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The Rostock naval base, located on Germany’s Baltic coast in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, is one of the Federal Republic’s most important maritime military hubs. It hosts corvette brigade units and key logistical and support elements, providing infrastructure for regional Baltic naval forces, including frigates, corvettes, and submarines. Thanks to its strategic location, Rostock enables rapid response in the Baltic Sea, supports international exercises, and strengthens NATO’s maritime deterrence posture in northeastern Europe. Bayern’s arrival under the watch of a Russian warship has once again raised concerns over port security and the vulnerability of allied naval rear areas.
The Russian destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov has appeared near NATO exercises on several previous occasions. For example, in December 2021, the Norwegian Navy and NATO allies held their annual major naval exercise FLOTEX 21 in the Norwegian Sea, focusing on anti-submarine warfare. At the same time, three Russian vessels — Vice-Admiral Kulakov, the tanker Akademik Pashin, and the tug Altai — were sailing nearby. Russia’s Northern Fleet claimed the ships were conducting routine training missions.
Although the Russian ships did not enter Norwegian territorial waters, they were close enough to draw attention. Tensions were heightened by the proximity of Andøya Air Station, a key base for Norwegian and NATO maritime patrol aircraft monitoring Russian submarine activity from the Kola Peninsula.
A similar pattern was observed this May, when Kulakov, having just completed exercises near the Kola Peninsula, moved through areas where NATO’s major anti-submarine operation Dynamic Mongoose was taking place — and then began trailing Bayern near the BALTOPS 25 exercise zone. Whether this maneuver was a provocation or merely a coincidental return route remains open to interpretation.
The latest incident between Bayern and Vice-Admiral Kulakov is a stark reminder of growing strategic tensions along NATO’s northern and eastern flanks. The North and Baltic Seas have become arenas for high-stakes power displays, where the risk of miscalculation — or even open confrontation — is rising. NATO’s likely response will involve increased vigilance, enhanced patrols, and improved maritime situational awareness to deter further Russian attempts to test allied maritime security.
Sources: bild.de and armyrecognition.com