According to a recent statement released by the Interfax news agency, the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet currently possess fifteen warships and support vessels.

Virtually all of the warships in the fleet carry land-attack guided missiles and already have some form of experience with Syrian operations since the time of the Russian intervention (having rotated duties), Al-Masdar News reports.

It is unclear whether or not the term ‘warship’ in the statement is also being used to include attack submarines (which is a separate thing in some naval terminologies).

In any case, based on the fact that all Black Sea Fleet warships are now familiarized with operations in Syria and their generally close proximity to the Arab republic, it can be understood that the entire naval battle group could – if needed – be rapidly deployed to Syrian waters to carry out attacks against militant targets across the country or to deter aggression from other powers.