A specialist website focused on naval activities around the world has shared an image it says shows a Russian Navy support ship docked at a Black Sea port in occupied Georgia where Moscow has vowed to establish a permanent naval base despite Tbilisi's objections.
Naval News reported that the Russian Project 22870 craft shown in the satellite imagery it published on July 10 was "observed in Ochamchire on July 4 and 5." It did not cite a source.
There does not appear to have been any official reaction from either Russia or Georgia to the ship's alleged presence.
But the appearance of a Russian Navy ship that is supporting the ongoing invasion of Ukraine at a port in Georgia's internationally recognized waters would almost certainly escalate Western concerns at Moscow's strategic and territorial ambitions in the region and could reignite tensions with Tbilisi.
Russia has effectively occupied Abkhazia and the neighboring region of South Ossetia, which make up around one-fifth of Georgian territory, since a five-day war in 2008.
The Georgian Dream party's government in Tbilisi has recently reestablished economic and other limited ties with Moscow despite a continued cutoff in formal diplomatic relations.
Naval News said the craft had gone "missing" after being seen on June 28 at its home port of Novorossiisk, about 370 kilometers northwest of Ochamchire, which is in the region of Abkhazia.
The Russian-backed separatists in Abkhazia announced in October 2023 that a deal had been signed to establish a Russian naval base at Ochamchire.
Georgia's Foreign Ministry immediately condemned the plan as a "blatant violation" of Georgian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The separatists then announced in January that construction had begun on the base.
Georgia is not a member of the European Union or NATO, though the military alliance calls Tbilisi one of its "closest partners" as it aspires for membership.
Moscow has repeatedly criticized the NATO and EU membership aspirations of Georgia and other former Soviet republics, and in Georgia's case has kept Russian troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
In November 2023, dozens of Georgian lawmakers appealed in a public statement to NATO and the European Union for condemnation of Russia's "occupation, militarization, and other actions aimed at annexation of the occupied regions of Georgia."
Tbilisi's candidacy for EU membership has been stalled by the recent passage of so-called "foreign agent" legislation seemingly modeled on laws used by Russian authorities to silence dissent and civil society.
SEE ALSO: EU Halts Georgia's Accession, Freezes Financial AssistanceThe U.S. military last week postponed "indefinitely" military exercises planned with Georgia for July 25-August 6 over what it said were "false accusations" leveled against the United States by Tbilisi.
In the wake of the passage of the "foreign agent" legislation, U.S. officials said they were conducting a comprehensive review of Washington’s relations with Georgia.