Akademik Tryoshnikov – the purported Russian spy ship, presence of which caused a hiatus within the Navy earlier this year – is back in Portuguese territorial waters, en route for the Antarctic. This time it is not being accompanied by any naval vessels, explain reports. “Responsibility for surveillance lies with the General Staff of the Armed Forces, who revealed to SIC Notícias that the vessel is accompanied by technological means and by the Air Force”. SIC adds that “details are classified information” but “the Armed Forces leadership reports that there have been no indicators of suspicious activity”. As we write on Tuesday afternoon, the boat steaming up the coast into Spanish waters. SIC adds that Russia “says the vessel is used in expeditions to Antarctica, to study icebergs, but NATO says it is spying on submarines”, and mapping underwater communications cabling systems.
