Spain monitors Russian naval movements near its waters

Spain has reported monitoring the passage of Russian ships and vessels in waters of national interest.

According to the Spanish Armed Forces General Staff, the ship Audaz, stationed in the Alboran Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar since December 2025, tracked the Russian destroyer Severomorsk during its transit to the Eastern Mediterranean, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The Spanish vessel later monitored a Russian-flagged convoy, including the corvette Boikiy and transport ship General Skobelev, as it moved toward the Atlantic. 

Several days later, these Russian-flagged vessels were sighted off the coast of Galicia, after which the patrol ship Centinela continued tracking the convoy until it entered French waters.

European navies have reported a notable rise in Russian naval and shadow fleet traffic through the Strait of Gibraltar and into the Western Mediterranean, with some warships and merchant vessels increasing transit activity by about 50% in 2025 compared with previous years, prompting closer surveillance with NATO partners to safeguard strategic sea lanes.

Spain has repeatedly detected Russian signals‑intelligence and spy ships near its coast, including assets specialized in electronic surveillance, reflecting sustained interest by Moscow in maritime intelligence collection in waters close to NATO territory.

By Jeyhun Aghazada