Russian Ship Intercepted in Portugal's Waters

A Portuguese navy ship has escorted a Russian oceanic research vessel away from Portugal's maritime economic zone on Wednesday. The Russian ship was in international waters, more than 12 nautical miles from the coast.

Portugal’s Defense Minister Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco made the announcements in Lithuania, confirming the rising of tensions from the situation in Ukraine.

After Portugal was one of several NATO countries whose airspace was approached last week by Russian planes without notice or explanation, Portugal was alerted that its waters of its economic zone have now also been breached.

The Portuguese ship that intercepted the Russian hydrographical vessel on Wednesday was a corvette sailing from the southern port of Faro.

Under international law a country's Exclusive Economic Zone extends 200 nautical miles from the coast, most of it in international waters.