Russian spy ship operating ‘in unsafe manner’ off Southeast coast, officials say
A Russian spy ship is “operating in an unsafe manner” off the Southeast coast between Florida and South Carolina, according to the United States Coast Guard.
A maritime safety information bulletin warns boaters that they should “use extreme caution when navigating in proximity” to RFN Viktor Leonov.
The bulletin came from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, which is responsible for ports that include Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, an area that has a number of military installations along the coast.
A US Navy destroyer is keeping tabs on the Russian surveillance ship, CNN reports.
This isn’t the first time the Leonov has been seen off the East Coast. The spy ship was lurking in U.S. waters last year off a nuclear submarine base in Georgia, according to the US Naval Institute.
The same ship was also seen off the coast of Connecticut, near another major submarine base, in 2017, according to The Miami Herald.
“This unsafe operation includes not energizing running lights while in reduced visibility conditions, not responding to hails by commercial vessels attempting to coordinate safe passage and other erratic movements,” the Coast Guard said.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 8:45 AM.
