Fears grow over Russian spy ship near Ireland as Zelenskyy visit approaches

Russian ship Yantar near UK waters. The ship, officially described as a research vessel, is believed to be capable of mapping the sea bed and interfering with critical infrastructure. File picture: Royal Navy/PA

A Russian spy ship may be launching submarines covertly into Irish waters or waiting to fly drones into Irish airspace ahead of the Ukrainian president’s upcoming visit, a former army officer warned.

The Yantar, a Russian ship found just off Scottish territorial waters which is believed to be heading south towards Ireland is equipped with a moon pool — an opening in the centre of the boat through which submersibles or divers can be covertly deployed — Dr Cathal Berry, former Army Ranger Wing officer and TD  said.

The ship, officially described as a research vessel, is believed to be capable of mapping the sea bed and interfering with critical infrastructure.

Ireland should be very concerned about the ship’s current passage, Dr Berry said, adding that UK intelligence may have found that the Yantar had “a sinister mission”.

British defence secretary John Healy announced this week that Royal Navy ships would be allowed to track the Yantar at a closer distance than general rules of engagement allow.

This followed the ship pointing lasers up at UK military planes. Such Russian activity was “a big provocation,” Dr Berry said.

These lasers could actually be laser range finders attached to weapon systems. And that’s the big concern. It tells you that the tension and the diplomatic stakes are rising significantly.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to visit Ireland on December 2.

There are now concerns that the Russian ship could sail down towards Dublin and deploy drones to interfere with Irish airports and airspace.

When the ship was sailing near Ireland previously, the Defence Forces picked up three aerial drones being deployed from the Yantar, Dr Berry said.

It is extremely likely that at least one Russian submarine is currently scoping Irish waters, Dr Berry said.

The Russian spy ship has the suspected capability to cut or tamper with undersea cables, potentially causing severe problems for Ireland and the West.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine there has been a 30% increase in Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic according to the UK, and the Russian subsurface fleet is “very, very aggressive, very, very active”, according to Dr Berry.

It is a concern for Ireland as the country currently has no sonar capabilities to patrol below the sea. Although a contract has been signed for underwater sonar, it will be another 18 months before it is operational, Dr Berry said. Any interference with critical subsea infrastructure — gas pipelines to Scotland, electricity interconnectors from the UK, fibre optic data cables, and cables from the wind farms off Wicklow — would have “massive repercussions”, he said.

Ireland has suffered “sea blindness” with a lack of regard for its critical blue economy, Dr Berry said. Some 16% of EU waters is under Irish control. And Ireland’s sea is seven times larger than its land mass.

A “game of cat and mouse” has been played for decades in the North Atlantic between Western forces and Russia, he said. 

Although all civilian ships are supposed to have their automatic identification system turned on, the Yantar had its switched off. This is essentially a tracking device, ensuring vessels can see each other to avoid collisions.

“If it’s just a research vessel and it’s passage is innocent as the Russians claim then why are they turning off the transponders?" Dr Berry asked.