"Russian warships will not be refuelling or bunkering in Malta" on their way to fight rebel fighters in Syria, a spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister said today. 

The spokesperson said that the Russian Government has made no formal requests as of yet.

However, it appears that a Russian Navy replenishment tanker and a Russian Navy Admiral Grigorovich Class Frigate are scheduled to arrive in Malta during the month of November, according to a website which records and logs Naval Movements around Maltese waters.

According to the website Malta Ship Photos, “From Friday 4th to Saturday 5th November the Russian Navy Dubna Class Replenishment Tanker RFS DUBNA is calling to Valletta” and  “During November the Russian Navy Admiral Grigorovich Class Frigate 751 RFS ADMIRAL ESSEN is calling to Valletta. She can carry 1 x Ka-27PL or Ka-31 Helicopter”

According the same website, 11 Russian Military Navy ships have berthed in Malta in 2016, with another RFS Admiral Grigorovich having also berthed here in May of this year.

The website, which has over one million logs of ships, aircraft, emergency vehicles & equipment, military warfare vessels dating back to 1997, is run by Captain Lawrence Dalli and works in conjunction with the Malta Maritime Services and Palumbo Malta Shipyard Ltd, Malta.

The question surrounding the arrival of the warships comes after the Russia government withdrew its request to refuel in Spanish ports amid international outrage.

A few days prior the Spanish government signed a European Council statement saying it was “appalled” by the “excessive and disproportionate” force used by the Syrian government and its Russian Allies.

According to Luke Coffey, who was writing for The Washington Post 25 Russian warships have refuelled in Spain since it invaded Crimea, with the most recent being on 16 0ctober after two Russian corvettes resupplied in Cuelta.

Russian warships have also docked and refuelled in Malta before, notably in 2014 when the Russian military destroyer, the Vice-Admiral Kulakov was berthed at Dock No6 in the Malta Shipyards.