British warship and helicopter chased off Russian submarine off Irish coast as Putin’s forces probe weaknesses on UK’s western flank
- Two UK military vehicles were sent to scare off a Russian submarine
- The submarine was found just south of the entrance of Cork Harbour
- Russia has been increasingly targeting Ireland as a way to get to the UK
Military sources have revealed that a British warship and helicopter were forced to chase off a Russian submarine that was caught lurking off the Irish Coast.
The submarine was found directly south of the entrance to Cork Harbour, just outside the 12-mile territorial limit afforded to every state under international law.
A Russian-registered civilian vessel was accompanying the submarine at the time, and is understood to have been acting as its ‘surface satellite,’ military insiders told the Irish Examiner.
Just before it got dark, a British helicopter flew into the area and dropped sonar equipment into the water, hovering for a short while and then leaving the scene.
Shortly after this, a Royal Navy anti-submarine frigate arrived to monitor the submarine’s movements on behalf of Ireland.
The submarine was found just outside the 12-mile territorial limit afforded to every states under international law (File photo)
The submarine and its companion vessel were found outside the entrance of Cork Harbour (pictured)
While the mission took place six months ago, details were only recently shared.
Sources told the Irish Examiner that Royal Navy vessels were used, as Ireland’s military does not have the capacity to monitor submarine movements on its own warships.
Military sources told the newspaper that Russia has realised that the UK is vulnerable on its western flank as a result.
They added that these near-incursions along the Irish Coast are becoming more and more common.
The Royal Navy has already been shadowing Russian warships off the south coast of Ireland which are ‘making a point to Britain’ in a ‘concerning’ sign of Putin’s increased aggression.
According to navy sources, the group of Russian ships are believed to have been supporting the war in Ukraine.
They are led by the Slava-class cruiser Marshall Ustinov, which is the sister ship of the Ukrainian missile-destroyed Moskva.
Russia has realised that the UK is vulnerable on its western flank, military sources said
Russia’s group of warships also includes the destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov and the tanker Vyazma, along with a suspected submarine.
It is not known where the ships will next go, but sources have claimed that the ships are ‘making a point’ to Britain that they are close by.
Some naval experts have said they could go past a naval base at Faslane. If the boats take a route like this, naval ships may have to patrol for more time than expected, as Faslane houses Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
Former captain of a nuclear-powered submarine and commander Ryan Ramsey said: ‘The Russians have every right to do this but it’s definitely posturing and a return to more aggressive Cold War behaviour by them.
‘This might be part of Putin’s strategy of pushing NATO in every environment. Within this group there will be a Russian hunter-killer but she won’t enter the Irish Sea because the tidal stream currents would make it too dangerous.’
MailOnline has contacted both the UK’s Ministry of Defence and Ireland’s Defence Forces for comment.
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