Internet cables between Ireland and the USA could be under threat after it emerged today that Russian ships were spotted in Irish waters last week.
The Sunday Times reported today that two Russian vessels were spotted by conducting reconnaisance off County Donegal in preparation for a possible sabotage operation.
It triggered a joint surveillance operation by the Irish and British Navy. The vessels were monitored by the Air Corps and LE George Bernard Shaw along with a British warship.
Security analyst Declan Power has told 98FM that all the signs are that the Russians may have been up to something sinister.
An attempt to deceive and confuse.
"The merchant vessel which was part of auxilliary Russian naval support services was turning its AIS system on and off so there was an attempt to deceive and confuse those who have the mandate to monitor those seas i.e. the Irish Naval Service because this is Irish controlled water."
The ships have now left Irish waters.
The event is the latest in a series of Russian sightings off the Irish coastline in recent months.
