A Russian spy ship was escorted out of the Irish Sea on Friday after entering Irish-controlled waters, raising fresh concerns about the security of critical underwater infrastructure. The ship, identified as the Yantar, was spotted near Dublin on Thursday and later off the Isle of Man. It had been monitored by multiple European and US naval forces after initially accompanying a Russian warship, the Admiral Golovko, through the English Channel the previous weekend.
The Irish navy’s LÉ James Joyce was dispatched to escort the Yantar out of Ireland’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around 3 a.m. Friday. Meanwhile, the Irish air corps continued to track its movements as it headed south. The Yantar’s presence near vital submarine pipelines and internet cables linking Ireland with the UK has heightened concerns about the security of these global data and energy routes, which serve as key conduits for tech giants like Google and Microsoft.
Edward Burke, an expert in the history of warfare at University College Dublin, described the situation as alarming, stressing that the Russian Navy’s actions are probing the defenses of Western Europe. He called for Ireland to enhance its naval capabilities and strengthen its maritime security partnerships within Europe.
The Yantar, an oceanographic research vessel used by the Russian Ministry of Defense, is capable of deploying submersibles and conducting underwater surveillance. It had been seen operating close to critical seabed infrastructure before, sparking fears it was gathering intelligence. On Thursday, the ship was spotted operating drones over Irish waters, further raising suspicions.
The sighting of the Yantar follows previous concerns over the security of European undersea infrastructure, including the alleged sabotage of the Baltic gas pipeline and underwater internet cables between Finland and Estonia earlier this year. In August, a Hong Kong-flagged ship admitted to accidentally damaging a pipeline but denied any sabotage intent.
The Yantar, traveling with the Golovko and a tanker, Vyazma, was shadowed by both British and French forces as it made its way through the English Channel and into the Irish Sea. The British navy continued surveillance as the ship deactivated its transponder and entered the Irish EEZ, where it was monitored by the Irish navy until it departed on Friday.