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Russian Spy Ship Slips Past Japan’s Southwestern Islands Under Close Naval Watch
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Japan’s defense authorities have confirmed that a Russian Navy intelligence-gathering vessel operated in waters surrounding the country’s southwestern islands earlier this week, transiting multiple contiguous zones before heading into the Pacific Ocean, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense on January 15.
A Vishnya-class intelligence collection ship—identified by hull number 535—entered the contiguous zones near Yonaguni Island and Miyako Island between January 13 and January 15.
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The ministry’s Joint Staff Office reported that the vessel was first detected moving northeast through waters adjacent to Yonaguni Island before continuing its transit through areas that included the contiguous zone around Miyako Island. Japanese forces maintained continuous surveillance throughout the passage.
Monitoring operations were conducted by the Maritime Self-Defense Force, including the destroyer JS Ikazuchi of the 1st Escort Division.
Airborne surveillance was provided by P-1 maritime patrol aircraft from the 1st Air Patrol Squadron and P-3C patrol aircraft from the 5th Air Patrol Squadron, the Joint Staff Office said.
Japanese Forces has confirmed that the Russian Navy "Kareliya" intelligence collection ship (535) navigated around Yonaguni & Miyako island from January 13 (Tue) to 15 (Thu), and then proceeded toward the Pacific Ocean.
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) January 15, 2026
US & Japan surveillance flight activity surged in the area https://t.co/HEOugZ9avM pic.twitter.com/3kUk4Mqsq7
The Vishnya-class is a Russian naval platform designed for electronic and signals intelligence collection. Ships of this type are fitted with extensive antenna arrays, radomes, and specialized equipment intended to intercept communications and electronic emissions during extended operations, particularly in sensitive or contested maritime areas.
Japanese defense officials have repeatedly documented Russian and Chinese naval activity near the country’s southwestern island chain, which includes strategically vital waterways linking the East China Sea with the western Pacific. Routes such as the Miyako Strait and the waters around Yonaguni Island are considered critical maritime corridors for military movements.
In previous briefings, the Ministry of Defense has stressed that naval and air units assigned to Japan’s southwestern defense sectors remain on heightened alert, responding routinely to foreign military activity near national territory. The latest transit highlights the sustained presence of foreign intelligence and naval vessels operating close to Japan’s outer islands.
The incident comes amid elevated regional tensions, as Tokyo continues to invest heavily in maritime domain awareness, electronic intelligence capabilities, and island-based defenses across the Nansei archipelago. Japan has also expanded patrol coverage and surveillance capacity in response to growing foreign military activity near its southwestern approaches.
Earlier, a Russian intelligence-gathering ship operated near US territorial waters off the Hawaiian island of Oahu in late October and was monitored by the US Coast Guard.
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