The Yantar, officially an oceanographic research vessel, is actually bristling with surveillance equipment as well as hosting a number of manned and unmanned deep-sea submersibles.

Its missions are thought to include cable cutting, laying of taps on undersea cables, and intelligence missions.

H I Sutton, an open source intelligence analyst who specialises in submarines and sub-surface systems is following the vessel. I recommend you follow him by clicking here in order to keep updated on this.

The United States Navy has stated that the submersibles hosted by the Yantar are able to sever cables miles beneath the ocean’s surface. The submersibles are reportedly capable of operating at depths of up to 6,000 metres (20,000 ft) and are reportedly the project 16810 Rus-class submersible and the project 16811 Konsul-class submersible.

The vessel was recently near Ireland. In response to queries, the Irish Defence Force said it was aware of the presence of the vessel off the west coast of Ireland.

“Óglaigh na hÉireann can confirm that the Irish Naval Service is aware of the Russian ship Yantar transiting in the Irish exclusive economic zone off the west of Ireland. This ship is transmitting on the automatic identification system and is outside Irish territorial waters.

This activity is in line with the UN Convention on the Law Of the Sea (UNCLOS) rules for transit through international waters. Territorial waters are 12 nautical miles from the coast of Ireland and under UNCLOS, there is no restriction on ships operating on the high seas inside exclusive economic zones.”

It should also be remembered that the Yantar has also been deployed for search and rescue operations, notably helping in the search for missing Argentine submarine ARA San Juan in 2017.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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105 COMMENTS

  2. Hi folks hope all is well.
    Let’s be realistic, we have ways to spy and gather intelligence, the Russians are no different.
    However, I’m not too sure why would they want to cut and disrupt cables where they also have to use the same cables for trade, commerce and communication.
    At the moment, Russia has so many sanctions placed on them with an affect placing it’s economy half that of Italy. Cutting cables would have a disastrous effect for them.
    Cheers,
    George

        • What do you think of Pres Putin he’s certainly done well for himself in the last 20 years. From a flat in St Petersburg to a palace on the Black Sea. He should write a book about how to manage your personal finances. I’m sure it would be a best seller.

          • Putin has learnt to mix a passion for Russia and it’s well being with curuption, he is no different to many of these instant billionaire that happened after fall of CCCP, only difference between Russia ones and western ones is we are more honest about it

          • Is it that honesty of said billionaires that leads to them being exiled from Russia itself to various safe havens around the world or floating yachts that they seldom dare leave?

          • My opinion is simple, those that stay in Russia to try make things better I can tolerate even if I disagree with them, those that steal then run to hide in the west, like reaper say earlier, they should be treated the old way as traitors

          • Lets be realistic very few billionaires are honest and trying to make things better as such. Those that stay in Russia for example are either benefiting others and are simply being allowed to stay and continue to do what they do to make money probably at the detriment of many thousands of honest people.

            Those that have left have either got too greedy and stopped greasing the wheels that allowed them to stay or have done something that will get them killed and had to run.

            Im not saying its any different in many western countries by the way it just seems to go on in slightly different ways in the west!

          • It is done different in the west, you call it donation or political support, we call it curuption, I know spelling in wrong, can’t remember right way sorry

          • Come on now Ulya who are you trying to kid we all know Putins priority is his self preservation and the billionaire’s that stay in Russia tend to be affiliated to him, corruption in Russia is at a way more extreme level than the west ,and obvious fact that Russian’s are not allowed to choose their leader , but I know use must project for Putins sake.

          • I do love the little Dave rants, are you able to explain to me how the Russian system actually works Dave? not the version your media tells you but how our voting system for president and duma actually happens?

          • The trouble is with that statement Uyla is Russia is not exactly subtle with its voting system and western media some may argue not perfect but at least they hold government policy to account where Russia does not even on pain of death sometimes ,it tends to be quite accurate on Russia partly due to fact that Putin has so much power he can afford to be not so subtle in his policies as I said.

          • Oh I could research the minute details Uyla if I could be bothered to ,it would be a lot of Rubbish to deflect the fact that it all comes down to the same Result though and that is Putin in power till the 2030’s officially but really hes in power till he kicks the bucket 🙂

          • So you rather blissful ignorance? There is a bit happening with internal politics ATM Dave, maybe do a little research about United Russia party, that’s the party Putin is with. You might be happily surprised

          • yes I might Ulya ,but its not blissful Ignorance when the result is the same ,there might be a game of musical chairs but Putin will still be in power I bet all my money in the world on it and I would not break a sweat.

          • Being so called Exciled is a great cover story for hush hush activities for Brother Putin billionaire olegaks living the oh so trusting West

          • His passion is first and foremost for himself and his place in history. This, of course, goes for many world leaders, but he can get away with being totally self-absorbed to a whole different level.

            The interesting thing will be what happens when he cops it.

          • I still call them Dictators and if he gets his way with the help of Nouakchott he’ll probably be embalmed like Uncle Lenin Narcissistic twat

      • It does make sense to those in charge though, and it’s put across as the necessary thing to do to the people.

        Everything in Russia and everything done here is ‘all for appearances’, even when the reality is something completely different. Those is charge don’t give a damn about the average citizen and only about how things are perceived to the wider audience.

        For instance, Russia tries to put across a tough guy image and will celebrate that its men win at wrestling/fighting and weightlifting etc, sports that have been made more popular here than in many other countries. It’s all a front though! In reality they are anything but tough here, with 25% of the men dying before 55, one of the world’s highest suicide rates among men, and the highest rate of alcoholism among men in the World. They will even try and twist those figures to their advantage though. Another image they like to put across is beauty, ie the woman, women’s gymnastics, figure skating and so on, whereas in reality Russia, on the whole, is a dull place with grey concrete block blocks of flats etc. And when there is beauty, they make sure it’s where the tourists will see it, ie Moscow and St Petersburg. Lots of status symbols.

        It’s all a false reality they are trying to put across. This country is a mess.

    • I would presume it would all be preparatory work in case a conflict does break out … well except for the tap work of course which would have potential benefits and would not disrupt trade so might go on at any time.

    • Agree George. More likely wanting to gather intelligence, not cut them.
      They are alarmed I believe, so any breaks are immediately apparent.

    • “At the moment, Russia has so many sanctions placed on them with an affect placing it’s economy half that of Italy.”

      Russia economy is bigger than UK or Italy.

      That is why they can get an independent full spectrum military industry from ICBM’s to spy satelites, Glonass, tanks, artillery, ships, aircraft etc.

      Don’t fall for GDP on $ simply, you have to factor it with PPP.

      • Well yes its easy to make all those things when the companies are either state owned or are privately owned and forced to build the stuff for a payment that may never be made.

    • Its not just Fibre cables that in time of tension would be ripe for cutting
      Electrical power interconnectors from the continent ( Lots of them in the channel) , cables from Off Shore Wind farms, Gas pipelines, IUSS/SOSUS cables would all go bye bye.
      Imagine the results if at least 30 % of the UKs electrical power and gas supply to power stations was cut instantaneously.
      I would personally leave the internet cables in place just to watch the financial markets crash as a result.

      • Ages ago I asked on here what the UK was doing to protect it’s Off Shore Wind farms etc, but I didn’t get much response.

        Surely the protection on these should be one of our first priorities, but how? Is there a case for SSKs to be deployed in such a role? If we had some that is…

        • Half the Residents along the West Sussex coast would love to see them disappear as they spoil the view which they have spent a lot of money on their Retirement homes . Hee Hee .Hee

        • 23/09/21 Stand off, little update on the Rampion Wind farm West Sussex Objections all the way even Our MP Russia needn’t bother we’re shooting ourselves in the Foot for them

  3. I wonder if this ship could form part of the suspicious, devious Russian actions presently being carried out against HMS Vigil.

          • It’s by Robin Aitken, ex BBC journo no less, exposing what he found in his career there. They push their own agenda, like many.
            I support the BBC as an institution and enjoy several of their programmes, but would not touch their news with a barge pole. I look at all sides then form my own conclusions.

          • When it means EX BBC I’ll bet a bottom Dollar he’ll be on a good public funded license payers Pension and like yourself 503 BBC news is a no no

    • I did say on day one watching the opening credits its the Russians, not just to take the usual anti Russian stance but Putin himself makes a very brief appearance in the opening sequence!

  5. Surprised nobody has mentioned that Russia has been talking about having it’s own internet, completely separate from the www. Good for keeping control of what information the population see and for being self sufficient when it comes to war.

    • Russia can’t afford a large war with anyone apart from tiny players..And It gets lots of its money from the west and billions tied up in the west.

      It’s kind of like China but to a lesser extent, too interconnected to start a war, we all need each other these days with all the multinationals and money tied up all Over the west.

    • Not just talking about it, has been tested and upgrading, last test we had was about 6 weeks ago, speed was normal and every site I normally visit including ukdj and my new favourite UK media daily mail was still able to access. Very good for being self sufficient like many things we are working towards. As you say, all so good if government wants to control what we have access to but any government can already do that with current set up including yours

      • Daily Mail! I hope you are having a few good laughs.

        Im in the middle east and yes they can block access to many things on the current internet very easily as nation.

        • Daily Mail does make me laugh, it is a good time waster. I use to read BBC but it is too much like RT so stopped with UK media. Someone here mention daily Mail during conversation about that stupid incident in the black sea so I read from then.
          Where in the ME may I ask? I work for time in UAE, Iran and done short trips to Syria and Iraq but now not allowed back by my company

          • Im currently in UAE at the moment.

            Daily mail at times is more like joke media, they do have the bare truths of a story but its rarely accurate more for a laugh than anything else!

  6. Does cable-cutting only refer to information, rather than power lines? Do Britain and France have backup cable infrastructure running through the Chunnel? Are there plans/measures to protect transatlantic cables in the public domain? (I’m not looking for a list, just curious as to whether they exist openly.)

    PS. I just spotted the Navy Lookout article on this from a few months ago. I must have missed it.

    • When they built the Channel tunnel the idea was floated of NG powerlines from Europe running along the tunnel but daily mail readers put the dampers on that they didn’t want their views of the tunnel being spoilt by dirty black cables

    • Wed’s morning News Fire at N Grid Anglo-French powerline Wed’s midday News power disruption to France to continue until Oct Daily Mail readers ecstatic

    • Hi Jon talking of cross Channel Power lines this week in fact there was a fire in the power distribution Kent disrupting supplies to France until October

  7. Commander Rasputin is here there and everywhere and loves to agitate in all areas of the world.Thankfully the Royal Navy will receive the ships with modern technology in a ever changing scenario to meet the threats.

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