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Spanish frigate intercepted Russian espionage vessel

The 'Reina Sofia' intercepted the 'Viktor Leonov (CCB 175), belonging to the Vishnya class (also known as the Meridian class), in the Strait of Gibraltar on Sep 21, 2025. It was responsible for locating the Russian Navy's electronic intelligence vessel, which sailed from the Mediterranean Sea toward the Atlantic Ocean. The Rota-based frigate had already tracked the Russian submarine 'Novorossiysk' and the auxiliary vessel 'Yakov Grebelsky', which were transiting through waters of Spanish interest in September. The 'Viktor Leonov', specifically designed for electronic and signals intelligence gathering tasks, entered service in 1988 under the name 'Odograf'. After the dissolution of the USSR, it became part of the Russian Northern Fleet and was renamed in 2004. It belongs to the 51st Independent Battalion of Reconnaissance and Intelligence Ships (Severomorsk), which is subordinate to the Kolskaya Flotilla, located on the Kola Peninsula. It is equipped with advanced radar systems, interception antennas, and specialized equipment for monitoring communications, both military and civilian, as well as for tracking fleet movements and weapons testing. Its presence has been detected in international waters near strategic US ports and naval bases. These missions, although legal under international maritime law as they remain in international waters, are viewed as pressure and deterrence actions typical of intelligence warfare. It has also been monitored in other countries such as France and Ireland. Its activity reflects the continuity of Soviet-era naval espionage practices. Under the strict surveillance of the Spanish Navy, between 2023 and 2024, up to 33 voyages by Russian vessels were recorded. making the Strait of Gibraltar the key passage for Russian warships in the midst of the Ukrainian war. The deployment of the 'Viktor Leonov 'in the Mediterranean comes amid an intensification of Russian maritime intelligence activities throughout Europe. Since early 2025, several Russian Navy vessels have been observed near the United Kingdom and the Nordic countries, especially in the North Sea and the English Channel. The 'Viktor Leonov' was already monitored on April 14 in the Strait of Gibraltar. The offshore patrol vessel 'Audaz (P-45) 'maintained close surveillance as the vessel passed through the Strait. The passage was considered normal under international law, given that the Viktor Leonov sailed in international waters, but it raised an alert because these types of electronic warfare vessels are designed to intercept communications. Report with photo: https://www.europasur.es/campo-de-gibraltar/asi-es-barco-ruso-viktor-leonov-armada-espanola-estrecho_0_2004860125.html