AP: Russian spy ship caught on fire near the Syrian Tartus coast

The Associated Press has obtained audio of a conversation between two ships, one of which is a Russian military vessel, as well as video and photos of a fire that broke out on a Russian spy ship near the Syrian coast.

The AP quoted three unnamed military officials as saying that a Russian spy ship caught fire on Jan. 23 near the Syrian coastal Tartus province.

The officials said the 55-year-old Russian ship, called the Kildin, was gathering intelligence on NATO activities in the Mediterranean.

Officials added that the fire lasted for more than four hours, while the crew removed the covers from the lifeboats, without having to use them.

The ship raised a naval signal indicating that it had lost its ability to steer, but the crew was eventually able to regain control of the ship.

For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied knowledge of the fire of the Kildin ship, indicating that it’s not professional to assess the state of the Russian fleet based on a single incident.

It’s worth noting that the Russian presence in Tartus wasn’t limited to the naval base, but rather expanded to include the port of Tartus under a long-term investment contract.

With the fall of the Syrian regime in December 2024, Russia began negotiating with the new Syrian administration to maintain its military presence in the country.