Portuguese Navy accompanies three Russian ships in the continent’s Exclusive Economic Zone

This Saturday, the Portuguese Navy finished monitoring at sea three Russian ships that were referenced for “allegedly transporting material used in the Russian war effort” and that crossed the continent’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

“The Portuguese Navy, through the ships ‘NRP Setúbal’, ‘NRP Viana do Castelo’ and ‘NRP Dragão’, today completed the monitoring at sea of ​​three Russian ships as they passed through the continent’s Exclusive Economic Zone”, reads a Navy press release.

Monitoring of the cargo ships “Ursa Major” and “Sparta IV” and the oil tanker “Yaz” began on Friday.

It was through the Maritime Operations Center that the Navy guaranteed permanent surveillance of areas of national sovereignty or jurisdiction.

The Portuguese institution added that it will continue to monitor every day of the year “the passage of ships with a view to international security” and the “promotion and protection of Portugal’s interests at and through the sea”.

The war triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 plunged Europe into what is considered the worst security crisis since the Second World War (1939-1945).