A Russian Navy intelligence-gathering ship, the Viktor Leonov, is currently operating in Irish-controlled waters. The ship has been tracked by the Irish Naval Service and has refused to respond to communication attempts. Its destination is believed to be Cuba.
The incident has raised concerns about potential Russian surveillance of Irish subsea infrastructure and data cables. While the ship is not violating any maritime laws, its actions are similar to previous incidents involving Russian vessels near sensitive infrastructure.
The Irish Air Corps and RAF surveillance aircraft are monitoring the Viktor Leonov's movements. The Irish Naval Service's LĂ Samuel Beckett has attempted to make contact, but the ship only acknowledged the communication without further response.
The Viktor Leonov has a history of similar activities, including incidents of unsafe behavior and refusal to communicate with other vessels near U.S. naval bases and while shadowing a U.S. submarine.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of Russian naval vessels operating near Irish waters. Another intelligence-gathering ship, the Yantar, has been observed near subsea cables in previous years.