Spain’s Navy has tracked a Russian submarine and support vessel as they passed through ‘waters of national interest’ in the Mediterranean.
The frigate Reina Sofía (F-84) carried out the operation as part of Spain’s ongoing maritime surveillance missions, known as Operaciones de Presencia, Vigilancia y Disuasión (OPVD).
According to Estado Mayor de la Defensa, the Spanish warship maintained constant monitoring of both the submarine and its auxiliary vessel as they transited through waters under Spanish strategic interest.
The vessels were tracked until they left the area and entered zones under Portuguese responsibility.
While authorities did not officially confirm the model, images released suggest the submarine was likely a Russian Kilo-class vessel – one of the most widely used diesel-electric attack submarines in the world.
Rising Russian naval activity
The operation forms part of Spain’s routine maritime security efforts, but comes against a backdrop of increased Russian naval presence in European waters.
Monitoring foreign military vessels is standard practice and carried out under international law, with the aim of safeguarding national sovereignty and ensuring freedom of navigation.
Permanent readiness
The Reina Sofía, a Santa Maria-class frigate, remains on permanent operational standby, allowing rapid response to any activity near Spanish waters.
These surveillance missions are coordinated by the Mando Operativo Marítimo, based in Cartagena (Murcia), which oversees Spain’s maritime security operations.
Spain deploys around 850 military personnel daily across its permanent operations, covering land, sea, air, space and cyber domains.
As tensions remain high across Europe and beyond, such operations are becoming an increasingly visible part of Spain’s defence posture.
