Russian spy ship near US, Pentagon says

The US Department of Defense says a Russian spy ship has been operating off the US East Coast and near the Gulf of Mexico for the past month.

“We are aware that the Russian ships Viktor Leonov and Nikolay Chiker are currently operating in waters that are beyond US territorial seas but near Cuba,” Lt. Col. Tom Crosson, a Pentagon spokesman, said.

“We respect the freedom of all nations, as reflected in international law, to operate military vessels beyond the territorial seas of other nations,” he was quoted as saying by The Washington Free Beacon.

The Leonov is an intelligence gathering ship outfitted with high-tech electronic spying gear.

The Chiker, which is an ocean-going naval tug, is known to support submarines and is equipped with lift capability for servicing Russian submarines.

The Pentagon report comes amid increasing tension between Washington and Moscow over the situation in Ukraine.

The US accuses Russia of violating Ukraine’s sovereignty by stirring up pro-Russia protests in eastern Ukraine.

Russia denies the allegation, saying the protests have begun spontaneously against what it calls the illegitimate interim government in Kiev.

The two countries expand their military buildup near Ukraine with American soldiers arriving in Poland while Moscow conducts military drills near its border with Ukraine.

The US military deployed 12 F-16 fighter jets to Poland in recent weeks and delivered 10 F-15s to the Baltic states for air-patrol programs.