Navy

Russian spy ship operating in 'unsafe manner' near U.S. submarine base

A Russian spy ship is conducting operations off the coast of the Eastern United States and has been engaged in unsafe activities near a U.S. nuclear missile submarine base, according to the Coast Guard.

The Russian ship, Viktor Leonov, has been shadowed periodically off the coast for years and is also suspected of spying on undersea Internet cables in addition to U.S. military bases.

On Sunday, the Coast Guard in Charleston, SC issued a maritime safety information bulletin about the Leonov, described as a Russian AGI, or auxiliary general intelligence ship.

“The United States Coast Guard has received reports indicating that the RFN Viktor Leonov (AGI-175) has been operating in an unsafe manner off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia,” the notice said.

“This unsafe operation includes not energizing running lights while in reduced visibility conditions, not responding to hails by commercial vessels attempting to coordinate safe passage and other erratic movements.”