Russian spy ship Viktor Leonov stirs NATO concern in Med Sea

• Viktor Leonov, the Russian spy ship, sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea, taking the place of another spy vessel, the Kildin.
• The Spanish patrol ship Audaz accompanied Viktor Leonov after it crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, reflecting the heightened vigilance in the area.
• The ship ignored communication attempts in Irish waters, which aroused the interest of Irish and British maritime services.

Viktor Leonov, a Vishnya-class spy ship, passed through the Strait of Gibraltar to carry out a mission in the Mediterranean Sea. It took over from another Russian vessel, the Kildin, which left the area last week. Following its passage through the strait, the Russian ship was escorted by the Spanish patrol vessel Audaz, underscoring NATO's interest in Russia's manoeuvres in the region.

Viktor Leonov is a Soviet-era ship built for intelligence gathering. It is equipped with advanced radar signal interception and radio listening systems, and it likely has underwater monitoring equipment. Its presence in the Mediterranean may be connected to a spying mission focused on NATO's southern flank.

While passing through waters under Irish control, Viktor Leonov ignored attempts at communication. For 36 hours, it was tracked by the Irish vessel Samuel Beckett and monitored from the air by Irish and British patrol aircraft.