Russian Spy Ship Spotted Near NATO Submarine Warfare Exercise In Norwegian Sea

NATO is conducting a submarine warfare training drill in the Norwegian Sea as part of Exercise Operation Dynamic Mongoose to train submarine forces in effectively detecting, deterring, and responding to underwater threats.

The ships and maritime patrol aircraft from France, Germany, Portugal, Canada, the U.S and the U.K are part of the exercise.

They are being supported by surface ships from France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal and Norway.

However, one more nation is present even though it is not a part of NATO.

A Russian intelligence ship belonging to the Northern Fleet, the Yuri Ivanov, has been sailing in the waters where the NATO exercise is ongoing.

The 95 m long spy ship is fitted with advanced electronic surveillance systems to collect information and monitor radio communications between NATO vessels.

Yuri Ivanov entered service in 2015, has a 120-member crew and is based close to Severomorsk.

NATO mentioned the Russian Spy Ship on a social media post captioned, “We. Are. Watching.”

NATO Maritime Command also posted pictures of the ship on its Facebook page, showing the ship being followed by Portuguese frigate NRP Francisco de Almeida.

Another photograph showed a British Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 helicopter from HMS Prince of Wales flying over the spy vessel.

According to reports, Russia’s air and naval activities have increased off Norway in the past few weeks.

“We have seen increasing Russian activity in the north. Our fighter aircraft on NATO standby have been identifying Russian surveillance planes heading out into the Norwegian Sea daily. It is happening more frequently than usual,” Vice Admiral Rune Andersen, head of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, told the media.