43

A Russian intelligence vessel, the Yantar, has been escorted out of the Irish Sea after it ventured into Irish-controlled waters, raising concerns over the security of vital subsea infrastructure. The ship, spotted on Thursday east of Dublin and southwest of the Isle of Man, was previously tracked with 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) in the early hours of Friday, while the Irish Air Corps continued to monitor its movements. The presence of the Yantar, a ship equipped with advanced oceanographic and surveillance capabilities, has sparked new fears regarding the security of interconnector cables that link Ireland to the UK. These cables are critical for global internet traffic, supporting major data centers operated by companies like Google and Microsoft.

Officially classified as an oceanographic research vessel, the Yantar is operated by the Russian Ministry of Defence and has previously been observed deploying deep-diving submersibles near subsea infrastructure. Its activities are believed to involve intelligence-gathering rather than direct sabotage, though its presence in sensitive areas has raised alarms about potential vulnerabilities in European energy and communication systems.

Earlier in the week, the Yantar was spotted west of Cork, near another set of interconnector cables linking Ireland to France, some of which provide transatlantic connections. This further heightened concerns about the security of Europe’s underwater infrastructure, particularly following recent incidents like the sabotage of pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

Edward Burke, an assistant professor at University College Dublin, emphasized the need for Ireland to enhance its naval and maritime security capabilities in light of the growing threat. The Yantar was observed operating drones over Irish waters, fueling suspicions of surveillance activity.

International forces, including the Norwegian, US, French, and British navies, have been closely monitoring the Yantar’s movements. After separating from the Admiral Golovko, the Yantar entered the Irish Sea, where it was tracked by the British Navy’s HMS Cattistock. While the vessel briefly activated its automatic identification system, it later turned off its transponder when it entered the Irish EEZ. Despite attempts by the Irish Navy to make contact, the Russian crew did not respond, and the ship eventually departed the area in the early hours of Friday.

This latest incident underscores the vulnerability of critical underwater infrastructure and the ongoing geopolitical risks to European energy and communication networks.