Recent vessel tracking data and military reports reveal that a Russian spy ship has recently been prowling around subsea cables in the Irish Sea, just north of Dublin.
Dubbed the Yantar, this vessel is believed to be a Russian navy oceanographic research ship, boasting a crew of around 60. The Irish Naval Service is keeping a close eye on its movements as part of a coordinated, multinational intelligence operation.
On Thursday, the Yantar briefly resurfaced on commercial marine tracking systems, showing up approximately 60 kilometers off the eastern coast.
Both the US and UK military forces are closely monitoring the ship’s activities as well.
Back in 2017, a weekly publication from the Russian parliament, known for its state-controlled perspective, described the Yantar as carrying “devices engineered for deep-sea tracking, alongside gear designed for connecting with highly classified communication cables.”
It’s reported that the Yantar is equipped with both manned and unmanned mini-submarines, capable of either severing or tapping into undersea cables.
The Yantar first attracted attention from Norwegian, Irish, US, French, and British military forces as it accompanied the Russian warship Admiral Golovko while passing through the English Channel on its way to the Atlantic over the weekend.
Additionally, the Yantar switched off its transponder south of Cornwall on Sunday, disappearing from tracking systems. During that period, it veered away from the Admiral Golovko and made its way north into the Irish Sea.
Interestingly, yesterday at 1:22 PM, the Yantar’s transponder flickered back to life for a brief six minutes. At that point, it was located just inside Irish maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), hanging around five to seven kilometers from multiple subsea cables connecting Ireland and Britain. This area also houses gas pipelines.
Sources from Prime Time report that an Irish Naval Service vessel was strategically positioned at the edge of the Irish EEZ, right across the nearest cables to the Yantar to deter any encroachment. It’s been further revealed that the Irish ship made contact with the Russian vessel, effectively ‘hailing’ it to communicate about its presence.
After a short while, the Russian ship departed the Irish waters.
Moreover, the British Royal Navy ship HMS Cattistock has been tailing the Yantar throughout its journey in the Irish Sea.
Flight radar systems indicate that a hefty British Royal Air Force P8 surveillance plane has also been patrolling the skies over the Isle of Man, situated northeast of the Yantar’s last known position.
Reports suggest that Irish Air Corps aircraft have been actively monitoring the Russian ship, especially since it has been heading south. A US Navy vessel, known as the US NS Bruce Heezen, is also reportedly patrolling the Irish Sea.
When asked about these recent movements of Russian ships near the Irish EEZ, the Defence Forces responded, noting that “under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, all vessels, including military ships, are allowed to transit through coastal states’ territorial waters on the grounds of innocent passage.”
They added, “All vessels navigating in Irish waters are expected to adhere to international law and may come under observation from Defence Forces assets to ensure this compliance.”
Further clarification reveals, “The Irish Naval Service Naval Operations Centre, in collaboration with the Air Corps and Defence Forces Headquarters, operates around the clock to monitor vessels within the Irish EEZ. This continuous surveillance is fundamental for promptly spotting and addressing any potential maritime incidents.”
In summation, the presence of the Yantar near critical infrastructure speaks volumes about current geopolitical tensions. With multiple countries surveilling these movements, it remains evident that the region is under close watch, highlighting the intricate dance of diplomacy and security in these turbulent waters.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
