RUSSIAN SPY SHIP SHADOWED AND WARNED OFF

UK frigate HMS Somerset this week ‘tracked’ Russian Navy ‘research vessel’ RFS Yantar in the English Channel.
Refer: https://tinyurl.com/43twakvr
The RFS Yantar (Project 22010) is a Russian Navy auxiliary ship, specifically an oceanographic research vessel. It is used for deep-sea exploration, research, and recovery operations, including tasks like submarine salvage, oceanographic surveys, and underwater reconnaissance. The Yantar is equipped with advanced technologies for conducting these types of operations, including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for underwater exploration.

The ship was built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, and was commissioned in 2015. It is considered one of the most modern and capable ships of its kind in the Russian Navy, with a significant focus on undersea and oceanographic operations.

Controversy and Speculation
Due to its military capabilities and advanced technology, the RFS Yantar has garnered attention and some speculation. Some have suggested that it could be involved in covert operations, such as the installation of underwater surveillance devices or even interfering with undersea cables. These theories are mostly based on the ship’s capabilities to perform deep-sea operations, including on enemy infrastructure.

Notable Missions

• Black Sea mission (2016): The Yantar was involved in the search for the wreckage of the Russian Tu-154 aircraft that crashed in the Black Sea. It successfully recovered some parts of the plane.
• Underwater cable inspection: There have been reports that the Yantar has been used to inspect and potentially interfere with underwater cables, leading to further speculation about its role in intelligence gathering.

The RFS Yantar is a highly specialized vessel with several notable capabilities, which make it an essential asset for the Russian Navy’s oceanographic and deep-sea operations.