Defence Forces monitor Russian naval vessels near Irish waters

The operation was based on intelligence gathered by the Defence Forces. 

This is believed to have been most likely shared through British military as the Russian ships had travelled along the British coast, passing through the English Channel on Sunday and crossing into the Atlantic.

British, French, and US navy and air forces conducted a surveillance operation of the Russian vessels.

It is thought this included the presence of a US navy ship near the Irish EEZ, and the flight of a US jet through Irish-controlled airspace en route to the vessels.

They included the warship Admiral Golovko, which is equipped with Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missiles.

The other two Russian vessels were the Yantar, officially described as research ship, and a refuelling tanker.

The Yantar has been documented by both military and security services as being equipped with the technology and weapons to identify the locations of sub sea cables, capable of interfering and even damaging them.

In a recent paper, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies based at Georgetown University in Washington DC, said: “Yantar has been observed loitering near undersea cables with submersibles capable of cutting or tapping into these cables, signalling a clear intent to exploit these vulnerabilities in a potential conflict scenario.”

The Yantar has been spotted over a cluster of data cables off the southwest coast of Ireland on a number of occasions.

These cables are considered the backbone of the global communications system and many pass along the EEZ — as well as outside — and some in Irish waters.

It is not thought the Russian vessels entered the EEZ.

At around lunchtime on Monday, a CASA 295 maritime surveillance aircraft flew from Air Corps headquarters in Casement Aerodrome, Dublin, and headed as far as 250km off the southwest coast, later returning.

It conducted a similar operation on Tuesday.

Ireland received two new CASA planes, fitted with modern-spec surveillance technology, over the last year and a half.

It is understood that a naval service vessel was at sea at the time, but was not involved in the monitoring of the Russian ships.

In a statement, Defence Forces headquarters said it did not comments on the specifics of operations.

It said they maintain “continuous maritime surveillance” within Ireland’s EEZ and assigned area of operations through co-ordinated efforts of the naval service and air corps.

It said vessels transiting Irish waters are expected to comply with international law and may be subject to observation by Defence Forces.

The statement said: “The Irish naval service naval operations centre, in co-ordination with the air corps and Defence Forces headquarters, conduct 24/7 monitoring of vessels within the Irish EEZ.

“This surveillance allows for timely detection and response to any potential maritime situations.”