The Irish Defence Forces scrambled their aircraft on Tuesday night after two Russian navy ships were detected off the west coast of the country. The frigates of the Russian navy, the Admiral Kasatonov and the Admiral Gorshkov, were detected in international waters by the Irish naval vessel, the LÉ Niamh. The Defence Forces deployed two CASA maritime patrol aircraft and an AW139 helicopter to monitor the situation. The presence of the Russian navy in the area has raised questions about their intentions, and highlights the need for Ireland to maintain its strong defence capabilities.
The Irish Defence Forces sprang into action this week upon identifying two Russian government vessels situated off the west coast with technology capable of disrupting subsea cables. Concerns were raised after the ships were observed circling a recently initiated communications cable linking Ireland and Iceland. Given that the ships previously participated in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, they have been subject to US-imposed sanctions.
In response, Irish Air Corps aircraft, as well as Naval Service assets, were deployed to conduct surveillance on the vessels. However, following examinations, it was determined that the ships’ unusual movements were more likely to have resulted from efforts to circumvent poor weather conditions instead of any potentially nefarious objectives.
The two ships departed the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on 22 November and are presently moving south to the West African port of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. They had set sail from the Russian port of Murmansk three weeks ago. Nevertheless, the vessels were closely monitored while within the Irish EEZ, although surveillance was intermittently hampered by poor weather and the absence of suitable aircraft.
The destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline in 2020, believed to have been caused by a bombing, has compelled EU countries, including Ireland, to intensely watch over essential subsea infrastructure. Moreover, it is reported that the Umka and Bakhtemir, both flying the Russian flag and operated by the Russian Marine Rescue Services, were monitored by Irish military forces due to their movements in the area of the IRIS high-speed, subsea communications cable, which runs west off the Galway coast and became operational last year.
Their movements raised further suspicions after an Air Corps aircraft witnessed one of the vessels towing a large platform that was later confirmed to be a 100m long cable-laying barge. The Umka is an offshore supply vessel, whilst the Bakhtemir is categorised as a salvage and rescue ship equipped with diving platforms and highly advanced submersibles capable of performing deep water work on infrastructure. The Russian Marine Rescue Services, which was also included in US sanctions due to its engagement in Nord Stream 2, operates both ships.
The Defence Forces admitted to assisting in the operation but refrained from sharing more details. A spokesman said: “Both the Air Corps and the Naval Service are aware of the ships but we won’t be releasing any further information on the operation…[as] both services continue to monitor activity in Irish waters and to undertake Maritime Defence and Security Operations throughout Ireland’s maritime domain.”
