The Russian intelligence vessel Yantar was detected on 15 November 2024 operating drones in the Irish Sea near vital subsea internet and energy infrastructure cables. The Royal Navy shadowed the vessel through the English Channel while the Irish Naval Service frigate LÉ William Butler Yeats escorted it away from critical cable areas off Cork. This operation highlights ongoing Russian espionage efforts targeting European underwater infrastructure, raising alarm among Western defense experts. The presence of the Yantar near underwater communication cables and gas pipelines underscores the vulnerability of such key infrastructure to electronic surveillance or potential sabotage. Irish and British authorities are closely monitoring these manoeuvres, which fit into a broader pattern of Russian Navy activity posing strategic threats to European security.

The Russian intelligence vessel Yantar was detected on 15 November 2024 operating drones in the Irish Sea near vital subsea internet and energy infrastructure cables. The Royal Navy shadowed the vessel through the English Channel while the Irish Naval Service frigate LÉ William Butler Yeats escorted it away from critical cable areas off Cork. This operation highlights ongoing Russian espionage efforts targeting European underwater infrastructure, raising alarm among Western defense experts. The presence of the Yantar near underwater communication cables and gas pipelines underscores the vulnerability of such key infrastructure to electronic surveillance or potential sabotage. Irish and British authorities are closely monitoring these manoeuvres, which fit into a broader pattern of Russian Navy activity posing strategic threats to European security.