So this is a thing now.
Boaters warned after Russian spy ship spotted off South Carolina coast – The USCG says they’ve received multiple reports that the RFN Viktor Leonov, a surveillance ship, has been operating “in an unsafe manner”.
FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) - A Russian spy ship is maneuvering its way along the Southeast coastline, according to the United States Coast Guard, particularly South Carolina and Florida in recent days.
The USCG says they’ve received multiple reports that the RFN Viktor Leonov, a surveillance ship, has been operating “in an unsafe manner” while navigating through international waters managed by USCG Sector Jacksonville, which covers the ports of Charleston and Savannah.
“We are aware of Russia’s naval activities, including the deployment of intelligence collection ships in the region,” a U.S. Northern Command spokesperson told The Washington Times. “While we won’t discuss specific measures being taken, NORAD and USNORTHCOM routinely conduct air and maritime operations to ensure the defense of the United States and Canada.”
CNN says the Leonov was being shadowed by the Norfolk-based U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan. The Russian Navy has a long history of surveilling the U.S. via ships. The U.S. Naval Institute reports surveillance ships monitoring U.S. naval bases along the East Coast in the past, including Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Station Mayport, Florida, and the nuclear submarine base at Kings Bay, Georgia. The Leonov regularly patrols along the East Coast and has made at least one appearance annually since 2015, CNN reports.
The Coast Guard says the unsafe operations include not energizing running lights while in reduced visibility areas, not responding to hails by commercial vessels attempting to coordinate safe passage and other erratic movements.
Boaters in waters off the Southeast coast are asked to maintain a sharp lookout and use extreme caution when navigating nearby the vessel. Mariners are asked to report any unsafe situations to the USCG.
The U.S. Naval Institute reports that early this week, U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Ross was being followed by the Russian corvette Vyshny Volochyok while the Ross was operating off the coast of Romania in the Black Sea.