Portugal restricts information about the activity of Russian warships off the coast

At least eight Russian ships have been spotted near Portugal this year, including the submarine Krasnodar and the vessel Yantar.

The Portuguese Navy is keeping a close eye on Russian ships that regularly appear off the country’s coast, Gospodarka Morska reports.

At least eight Russian Navy ships have been spotted near Portugal since the beginning of the year, but official structures are increasingly restricting access to information on this issue.

Among them is the submarine Krasnodar, which could carry Kalibr cruise missiles. Also in January, the vessel Yantar was spotted in the region, known for its espionage and sabotage missions, including its potential ability to damage underwater telecommunications cables and pipelines.

In April, the Chief of the General Staff of the Portuguese Navy, Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa, confirmed a “sharp increase” in the activity of Russian ships related to the war against Ukraine. According to official data, in 2022-2024, at least 143 Russian military vessels were in Portuguese waters, of which 31 were carrying out reconnaissance missions.

Thus, Portugal becomes another European destination where the increased presence of Russian naval forces is recorded against the backdrop of a full-scale war in Ukraine.

As reported by USM, the day before, France detained a tanker of the Russian “shadow fleet” on suspicion of violating sanctions. According to the Institute for Black Sea Strategic Studies, it may be involved in launching drones over Denmark.