Defence Forces monitor Russian naval vessels near Irish waters

One of the Air Corps' new Airbus C295 surveillance aircraft was used to track the movements of Russian naval vessels. File picture: Niall Carson/PA 

The Defence Forces conducted an intelligence-led operation over recent days, monitoring the movements of Russian military vessels near Irish-controlled waters.

An air corps maritime surveillance aircraft carried out missions on Monday and Tuesday along the southern border of Ireland’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in order to track the vessels’ movements.