US Coast Guard Spots Russian Naval Vessel Near Alaska

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter reported on Friday an encounter with a Russian military vessel while conducting routine patrols in the region earlier this week. The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley (WMEC 39) detected the Russian Federation Vishnya-class naval vessel on Monday. It was located around 30 nautical miles southeast of Amukta Pass, Alaska, during their patrol of the Aleutian Islands, according to a statement. The vessel was “transiting in international waters but still inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone,” which extends 200 nautical miles from the U.S. shoreline, according to the statement. The aircrew of an HC-130 aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, a long-range surveillance plane designed for search and rescue operations and maritime patrol, provided aerial support and confirmed the presence of the Russian vessel....