A Russian intelligence ship, the Yantar, has been escorted out of the Irish Sea after it entered Irish-controlled waters and patrolled areas containing crucial subsea energy and internet infrastructure. The ship was spotted on Thursday, just east of Dublin and southwest of the Isle of Man. Previously, the Yantar had been tracked accompanying the Russian warship Admiral Golovko through the English Channel over the weekend.
The Irish Navy’s LÉ James Joyce escorted the Yantar out of Ireland’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) early Friday morning, while the Irish Air Corps continued to monitor its movements as it headed south. The presence of the Yantar has raised significant concerns over the security of vital interconnector cables that run between Ireland and the UK. These cables carry substantial amounts of global internet traffic, supporting major tech companies like Google and Microsoft, whose EU headquarters are located in Ireland.
Officially classified as an auxiliary oceanographic research vessel with underwater rescue capabilities, the Yantar is operated by the Russian Ministry of Defence. It has been known to deploy deep-diving submersibles and conduct operations near subsea infrastructure, leading intelligence analysts to suggest its mission may involve gathering strategic intelligence rather than sabotage.
The ship was also observed earlier this week west of Cork, where another set of energy and internet connectors between Ireland and France are located, some of which offer transatlantic connections. This has heightened fears regarding the security of critical infrastructure in European waters, especially following the alleged sabotage of pipelines and cables earlier this year in the Baltic Sea.
Edward Burke, an assistant professor of war history at University College Dublin, called the situation alarming, urging Ireland to bolster its naval capabilities and strengthen maritime security partnerships within Europe. The Yantar’s actions, which included operating drones over Irish waters, have raised suspicions of surveillance activities.
The Yantar was being monitored by several international naval forces, including Norwegian, US, French, and British services. After parting ways with the Admiral Golovko, it entered the Irish Sea, where it was shadowed by the British Navy’s HMS Cattistock. The ship briefly activated its automatic identification system on Thursday, confirming its presence near the Isle of Man. However, it turned off its transponder upon entering the Irish EEZ, and attempts by the Irish Navy to contact the vessel went unanswered.
This incident highlights growing concerns over the vulnerability of Europe’s critical underwater infrastructure and the potential risks posed by foreign military surveillance in these strategic waters.