Portugal notices increased activity of Russian ships in its waters

18 November, 2024 Crew members of the frigate Dom Francisco de Almeida watch for Russian ships near Portugal. Photo: NATO Naval Command The Portuguese military has recorded increased activity of Russian ships in Portuguese waters in the Atlantic.

The Portugal News reported on this. There is an increase in the traffic of the Russian ships in Portuguese waters. This was reported by the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Navy, Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo.

"There is a transit of ships from the Russian Federation in our waters, an increasingly intense transit, from north to south and from south to north," the admiral said. According to the admiral, nine Russian ships have passed through the Portuguese waters in a very short period of time. Among them are two frigates, a corvette, two refuelling vessels, three research vessels and "a spy ship that is usually engaged in electronic intelligence."

Admiral Gouveia e Melo said that the Portuguese Navy was closely monitoring that flow of the Russian ships. "Our response to this is to follow them, to control them, to keep them under constant pressure with our constant presence," he told reporters. On Sunday, November 17, 2024, the NATO's Maritime Command published a post showing the crew of the Portuguese frigate Dom Francisco de Almeida observing the Russian Project 861M Medium Reconnaissance Ship near Portugal.

The medium-sized Project 861M reconnaissance ship nearby Portugal.

Photo credits: Allied Maritime Command

On November 14, 2024, the Irish Navy withdrew the Russian research vessel Yantar from the exclusive economic zone of Ireland.

The vessel Yantar. Photo credits: LPhot Dan Rosenbaum/UK MOD

The Russian ship was spotted east of Dublin and southwest of the Isle of Man, in an area where important underwater pipelines and cables for energy and internet networks run. The vessel Yantar is officially classified as an auxiliary oceanographic research vessel - a carrier of underwater vehicles.

It is subordinated to the Russian Ministry of Defense and is not part of the Navy.

The Irish Navy ship James Joyce took the Russian spy out of the Irish Exclusive economic zone around 3 a.m. on November 15, and the country's Air Force continued to monitor his movements.