Panic in Majorca as Russian navy ships spotted near shores | World | News
Two Russian navel ships were spotted near the coast of Majorca earlier today.
The Spanish frigate Navarra has successfully located and monitored two Russian naval vessels—the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the resupply ship Yelnya as they travelled south of the Balearic Islands en route from the eastern Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean.
The operation, conducted under Spain’s Maritime Operational Command, ensured the ships’ passage was closely tracked through waters under Spanish responsibility until they exited the Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone near Portugal.
The Spanish Navy confirmed the operation as part of its ongoing “Operation Presence, Surveillance, and Deterrence” (OPVD), a mission designed to protect national interests and monitor vessels of strategic importance in Spanish-controlled maritime areas.
Upon leaving the Spanish EEZ, the responsibility for tracking the Russian ships was handed over to the Portuguese Navy.
Spain’s OPVD underscores the country’s commitment to maritime security and the surveillance of foreign naval movements near its territorial waters.
The tracking of the Admiral Gorshkov and Yelnya highlights Spain’s ability to monitor advanced naval assets like the Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates, which feature stealth technology and are capable of long-range strikes, anti-submarine warfare, and escort missions.
The Admiral Gorshkov class, a flagship project of the Russian Navy, is regarded as a successor to Soviet-era frigates, offering cutting-edge multi-role capabilities.
Built in Saint Petersburg at a cost of $250 million (£196m) per ship, the class exemplifies modern Russian naval design, with 10 vessels expected to be completed by 2027. The lead ship, Admiral Gorshkov, entered service in 2018.
This monitoring effort reflects broader concerns over the movement of Russian military vessels in strategically important maritime zones.
Spain’s active participation in ensuring maritime security demonstrates the importance of international cooperation, the seamless transfer of tracking duties to the Portuguese Navy underscores a coordinated NATO-aligned approach in monitoring Russian naval activities.
As tensions remain elevated in global geopolitics, Spain’s vigilance in safeguarding its maritime spaces signals a clear commitment to upholding national sovereignty and deterring unauthorized or provocative activities in its waters.
