Defense Forces Tracking Russian Warships Acting Unusually Off Southern Irish Coast The Irish Times

The Marshal Ustinov, a large cruise missile ship, is one of a group of at least three Russian navy ships that were traveling back across the Mediterranean to their home port in northern Russia. It was one of the ships taking part in planned live-fire exercises in Irish-controlled waters in February. The Ustinov, whose sister ship Moskva was sunk in April, has been operating around the Mediterranean since then, supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. On Tuesday, the vessels were located off the southeast coast of Ireland, within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but outside Irish territorial waters. They were traveling north with the apparent intention of sailing as far as the Irish Sea. However, just before 8am the ships turned and began sailing back the way they had come, raising questions about their intentions. The ships are shadowed by the Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster. In a statement, the Defense Forces said they were aware of the activity and were “monitoring the situation”. “However, the Defense Forces do not comment on specific operational deployments,” he added. The Ustinov was one of several ships taking part in planned naval exercises off the coast of Co Cork in February, widely seen as a provocation to the West ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The exercises, which involved the launch of missiles, were to take place in the Irish EEZ and caused concern due to their proximity to underwater communications cables. Russia eventually agreed to move the exercises further into the Atlantic and out of the EEZ after protests from the Irish government. Russia is allowed under international law to cross the Irish Sea as long as it remains outside the territorial waters of Ireland and the United Kingdom, which extend about 22 kilometers from each country’s coast. However, it is a highly unusual route for Russian naval vessels and the maneuvers are likely to cause concern among Irish and British defense officials given the tense international situation. In the past it was more common for Russian naval vessels traveling to their northern ports to take the western route around Ireland or travel east across the Channel. Ustinov is not visible in publicly available resources, but its presence is indicated by the fuel ship Vyazma, which accompanies the vessel. Along with the ships is believed to be the Vice Admiral Kulakov, a Russian destroyer. Earlier this month, another Russian ship was spotted acting unusually off the southern Irish coast. The Akademik Pashin, a navy oil tanker, was spotted leaving the English Channel on August 17 and sailing unexpectedly west along the southern coast of Ireland, at times coming within 140km. Defense sources say it was likely supporting other Russian ships in the area.

title: “Defense Forces Tracking Russian Warships Acting Unusually Off Southern Irish Coast The Irish Times Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-24” author: “Ricky Roach”

The Marshal Ustinov, a large cruise missile ship, is one of a group of at least three Russian navy ships that were traveling back across the Mediterranean to their home port in northern Russia. It was one of the ships taking part in planned live-fire exercises in Irish-controlled waters in February. The Ustinov, whose sister ship Moskva was sunk in April, has been operating around the Mediterranean since then, supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. On Tuesday, the vessels were located off the southeast coast of Ireland, within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but outside Irish territorial waters. They were traveling north with the apparent intention of sailing as far as the Irish Sea. However, just before 8am the ships turned and began sailing back the way they had come, raising questions about their intentions. The ships are shadowed by the Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster. In a statement, the Defense Forces said they were aware of the activity and were “monitoring the situation”. “However, the Defense Forces do not comment on specific operational deployments,” he added. The Ustinov was one of several ships taking part in planned naval exercises off the coast of Co Cork in February, widely seen as a provocation to the West ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The exercises, which involved the launch of missiles, were to take place in the Irish EEZ and caused concern due to their proximity to underwater communications cables. Russia eventually agreed to move the exercises further into the Atlantic and out of the EEZ after protests from the Irish government. Russia is allowed under international law to cross the Irish Sea as long as it remains outside the territorial waters of Ireland and the United Kingdom, which extend about 22 kilometers from each country’s coast. However, it is a highly unusual route for Russian naval vessels and the maneuvers are likely to cause concern among Irish and British defense officials given the tense international situation. In the past it was more common for Russian naval vessels traveling to their northern ports to take the western route around Ireland or travel east across the Channel. Ustinov is not visible in publicly available resources, but its presence is indicated by the fuel ship Vyazma, which accompanies the vessel. Along with the ships is believed to be the Vice Admiral Kulakov, a Russian destroyer. Earlier this month, another Russian ship was spotted acting unusually off the southern Irish coast. The Akademik Pashin, a navy oil tanker, was spotted leaving the English Channel on August 17 and sailing unexpectedly west along the southern coast of Ireland, at times coming within 140km. Defense sources say it was likely supporting other Russian ships in the area.

title: “Defense Forces Tracking Russian Warships Acting Unusually Off Southern Irish Coast The Irish Times Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “Paul Adams”

The Marshal Ustinov, a large cruise missile ship, is one of a group of at least three Russian navy ships that were traveling back across the Mediterranean to their home port in northern Russia. It was one of the ships taking part in planned live-fire exercises in Irish-controlled waters in February. The Ustinov, whose sister ship Moskva was sunk in April, has been operating around the Mediterranean since then, supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. On Tuesday, the vessels were located off the southeast coast of Ireland, within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but outside Irish territorial waters. They were traveling north with the apparent intention of sailing as far as the Irish Sea. However, just before 8am the ships turned and began sailing back the way they had come, raising questions about their intentions. The ships are shadowed by the Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster. In a statement, the Defense Forces said they were aware of the activity and were “monitoring the situation”. “However, the Defense Forces do not comment on specific operational deployments,” he added. The Ustinov was one of several ships taking part in planned naval exercises off the coast of Co Cork in February, widely seen as a provocation to the West ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The exercises, which involved the launch of missiles, were to take place in the Irish EEZ and caused concern due to their proximity to underwater communications cables. Russia eventually agreed to move the exercises further into the Atlantic and out of the EEZ after protests from the Irish government. Russia is allowed under international law to cross the Irish Sea as long as it remains outside the territorial waters of Ireland and the United Kingdom, which extend about 22 kilometers from each country’s coast. However, it is a highly unusual route for Russian naval vessels and the maneuvers are likely to cause concern among Irish and British defense officials given the tense international situation. In the past it was more common for Russian naval vessels traveling to their northern ports to take the western route around Ireland or travel east across the Channel. Ustinov is not visible in publicly available resources, but its presence is indicated by the fuel ship Vyazma, which accompanies the vessel. Along with the ships is believed to be the Vice Admiral Kulakov, a Russian destroyer. Earlier this month, another Russian ship was spotted acting unusually off the southern Irish coast. The Akademik Pashin, a navy oil tanker, was spotted leaving the English Channel on August 17 and sailing unexpectedly west along the southern coast of Ireland, at times coming within 140km. Defense sources say it was likely supporting other Russian ships in the area.

title: “Defense Forces Tracking Russian Warships Acting Unusually Off Southern Irish Coast The Irish Times Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-08” author: “Marylin Clayton”

The Marshal Ustinov, a large cruise missile ship, is one of a group of at least three Russian navy ships that were traveling back across the Mediterranean to their home port in northern Russia. It was one of the ships taking part in planned live-fire exercises in Irish-controlled waters in February. The Ustinov, whose sister ship Moskva was sunk in April, has been operating around the Mediterranean since then, supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. On Tuesday, the vessels were located off the southeast coast of Ireland, within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but outside Irish territorial waters. They were traveling north with the apparent intention of sailing as far as the Irish Sea. However, just before 8am the ships turned and began sailing back the way they had come, raising questions about their intentions. The ships are shadowed by the Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster. In a statement, the Defense Forces said they were aware of the activity and were “monitoring the situation”. “However, the Defense Forces do not comment on specific operational deployments,” he added. The Ustinov was one of several ships taking part in planned naval exercises off the coast of Co Cork in February, widely seen as a provocation to the West ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The exercises, which involved the launch of missiles, were to take place in the Irish EEZ and caused concern due to their proximity to underwater communications cables. Russia eventually agreed to move the exercises further into the Atlantic and out of the EEZ after protests from the Irish government. Russia is allowed under international law to cross the Irish Sea as long as it remains outside the territorial waters of Ireland and the United Kingdom, which extend about 22 kilometers from each country’s coast. However, it is a highly unusual route for Russian naval vessels and the maneuvers are likely to cause concern among Irish and British defense officials given the tense international situation. In the past it was more common for Russian naval vessels traveling to their northern ports to take the western route around Ireland or travel east across the Channel. Ustinov is not visible in publicly available resources, but its presence is indicated by the fuel ship Vyazma, which accompanies the vessel. Along with the ships is believed to be the Vice Admiral Kulakov, a Russian destroyer. Earlier this month, another Russian ship was spotted acting unusually off the southern Irish coast. The Akademik Pashin, a navy oil tanker, was spotted leaving the English Channel on August 17 and sailing unexpectedly west along the southern coast of Ireland, at times coming within 140km. Defense sources say it was likely supporting other Russian ships in the area.