TAIPEI, Taiwan – A Russian attack submarine surfaced in the South China Sea to the west of the Philippines last week, prompting Manila to send a warship and aircraft to track it, said the Philippine military on Monday, an appearance that the president said was “very worrisome.”
The Russian vessel was spotted 148 kilometers (80 nautical miles) west of Occidental Mindoro province, in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, or EEZ, on Thursday. It had come from Malaysia, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or AFP.
The Philippine navy said it dispatched an aircraft and a warship to “monitor and address” the submarine, adding that it was a Russian Ufa, a Kilo II-class diesel-electric submarine.
The AFP said that the attack submarine was apparently awaiting better weather before heading to the port of Vladivostok, in eastern Russia.
“The Russian vessel stated it was awaiting improved weather conditions before proceeding to Vladivostok, Russia. Philippine naval forces, including FF150, escorted and monitored operations to ensure the submarine’s compliance with maritime regulations within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone,” said the Philippine armed forces.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters that the reported presence of a Russian submarine was “very worrisome.”
“That’s very concerning. Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ, of our baselines, is very worrisome,” said Marcos, referring to part of the South China Sea within the Philippine EEZ.
Marcos did not elaborate, saying he would let the military discuss the matter.
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Dubbed one of the most advanced silent submarines, the Ufa is equipped to launch Kalibr missiles, which have been widely used in Ukraine. It operates at a depth of 240 meters and can reach a maximum depth of 300 meters.
The US Naval Institute News reported last week that the Russian submarine had been operating in the South China Sea after a port visit and exercises at a Malaysian naval base on Nov. 23.
The media outlet added that the Ufa was scheduled to return to the Russian Pacific Fleet’s submarine base at Kamchatka Naval Base.
Russia has recently been increasing its presence in the South China Sea, including holding its first joint naval exercise with Indonesia last month.
Russia also carried out live-fire naval exercises with China in the South China Sea in July. The two countries declared a “no limits” partnership when President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing in 2022, just days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Edited by RFA Staff.
BenarNews journalist Jason Gutierrez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this story.