Russian Shadow Fleet Vessel With Naval Escort Loiters Above Key Europe–Africa Undersea Cable

The Russian vessel Sparta IV, part of Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet, spent several days positioned above the Africa Coast–Europe (ACE) submarine communications cable while escorted by Russian Navy ships, according to defense observer Russian Forces Spotter on February 18.

The ship was operating in international waters but deliberately avoided entering Portugal’s exclusive economic zone, maintaining a distance of approximately 35 nautical miles from the country’s maritime boundary.

Officially, the vessel’s presence in the area was attributed to adverse weather conditions. However, other commercial ships in the same region reportedly continued normal operations without significant disruption.

The extended positioning of Sparta IV directly above the strategic undersea cable—combined with naval escort—has raised suspicions that the vessel may have been conducting seabed mapping or surveillance activities.

Sparta IV belongs to SK-Yug LLC, a Russian shipping company under sanctions and a subsidiary of Oboronlogistika LLC—itself a sanctioned entity.

According to Militarnyi, Oboronlogistika is part of Russia’s military construction complex under the Ministry of Defense and serves as the sole transportation contractor for the Russian defense ministry. The company supports military logistics operations, including troop movements within Russia and cargo deliveries to occupied Crimea.

Sparta IV is currently under US sanctions.

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World

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While there is no official confirmation of cable interference, the vessel’s prolonged presence over a critical communications artery linking Africa and Europe highlights growing concerns over the vulnerability of global undersea infrastructure.

Submarine cables carry the vast majority of international internet and financial data traffic, making them strategically sensitive assets in times of geopolitical tension.

Earlier, British military forces ordered a Russian cargo vessel to leave UK territorial waters after it anchored dangerously close to transatlantic undersea communications cables in the Bristol Channel.

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