Drone strikes hit Moscow’s new naval base in Sudan, says Telegram channel linked to Russia’s Defense Ministry

The “Flamingo” Russian naval facility, under construction in Port Sudan, has reportedly come under drone attack, according to a report by the Telegram channel Rybar, which is widely considered to have close ties to Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

Since early May, the Sudanese city has been subjected to a wave of drone strikes, believed to be carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebel group. Key infrastructure has been hit — including fuel depots, power stations, and the local airport. Satellite imagery published on May 11 by the researcher Rich Tedd shows several damaged structures at the site of the future base.

The Insider analyzed Sentinel satellite images and confirmed visible signs of destruction in the area where the base is believed to be under construction.

Negotiations for a Russian naval logistics hub in Port Sudan began in 2017. In 2020, Russia and Sudan signed an agreement to establish a material-technical support point for the Russian Navy on the coast of the Red Sea. Under the deal, the base would host up to four Russian warships and 300 personnel. It would also include infrastructure for air defense systems and electronic warfare assets, along with facilities for importing other weapons and military equipment. The agreement was set to last for 25 years, with an option to extend it for another 10.

However, due in large part to Sudan’s ongoing political instability, the agreement was never ratified. After the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019, the country saw two military coups (in 2019 and 2021), leaving the future of the Russian base uncertain.

In December 2024, Bloomberg reported that Sudan had backed out of the deal despite Russia offering to supply an S-400 missile system. According to sources in Sudanese intelligence, the country's leadership feared backlash from the U.S. and other Western powers.

Meanwhile, Russia has maintained a strong presence in Sudan through private military companies. Since 2017, Wagner Group operatives have played an active military and economic role in Sudan and the neighboring Central African Republic, particularly in securing Russian interests in gold mining. A 2022 investigation by OCCRP and Le Monde revealed that a company owned by the late Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin, Meroe Gold, transferred millions of dollars to Sudanese firm Aswar Multi Activities, which has ties to the country’s military intelligence agencies. In return, Russian operatives received access to privileged mining rights, personnel documentation, and arms supplies.

Tensions escalated further in January 2024 when Kyiv Post released a video purportedly showing Wagner fighters being detained and interrogated in Sudan by Ukrainian military intelligence. Additional footage circulated showing drone strikes on Russian equipment, with speculation that Ukrainian special forces working alongside anti-regime forces in Khartoum were behind the operation.

With continued assaults on Russian-linked sites and alleged UAE support for the RSF, the future of Moscow’s naval base in Port Sudan looks increasingly uncertain.