Ireland’s defence strategy is based on “sticking plasters and Hail Marys”, a security expert has argued as a Russian spy ship heads towards Irish waters. 

The Yantar being shadowed by the frigate HMS Somerset of the Royal Navy and tracked by RAF planes while off the coast of Scotland. 

The British Government claims the vessel has the capacity to interfere with subsea cables that connect Europe to North America. 

Spy ship

On its current trajectory, the Yantar is likely to soon arrive in Ireland’s territorial waters. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, defence and security analyst Declan Power said there is little the Government can do. 

“We have very little in the line of capabilities to deal with it from a belligerent perspective,” he explained. 

“We also seem to be struggling with regards to the legal situation, as to could we intercept, stop or board if it’s outside Irish territorial waters? 

“It’s headed toward Irish economically controlled waters.” 

Be in no doubt, we live in a new era of threat.

A Russian spy ship, the Yantar, returned to UK waters and directed lasers at our pilots.

Our government will always do what’s needed to defend Britain, and our Armed Forces stand ready to deter. pic.twitter.com/SpxwFiNnKF

— John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) November 19, 2025

Mr Power continued that the arrival of the ship in Irish waters would be typical of “Russian hybrid warfare”, which seeks to push the boundaries of what a hostile nation can do without actually declaring war. 

It all adds up to an implicit threat against Ireland’s undersea infrastructure. 

“One of Ireland’s major energy connectors comes from Scotland, down past the Isle of Man, to Ireland,” Mr Power said. 

“It’s not a million miles away from the route that the Yantar is taking and loitering around. 

“So, there is very much a real operational concern on both sides of the Irish Sea about this. 

“It should be of particular importance to us because about 80% of our energy needs come through this connector. If that’s ever interfered with, we will be in trouble - there’s no doubt about that.”

An Irish Navy ship arriving into Dublin. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Mr Power added that there is no suggestion that the Russians have “any intent to do anything right now”, insisting their aim is to probe the weaknesses of the western nations. 

“They’re looking to see where are the faultlines? The UK and Ireland, are they intent on co-ordinating?” he said. 

“Everybody knows Ireland doesn’t have the capacity to do anything of a heavy weight nature from a security and defence perspective - even in terms of protecting its own interests, homeland and citizens.” 

A member of the Defence Forces. Picture by: Alamy.com

In Budget 2026, the Department of Defence was allocated a record €1.5 billion, boosting military spending by 11%. 

Much of the spending has been earmarked to pay for expensive military equipment, such as a radar system. 

However, it remains a significantly smaller sum than that spent by other European countries equivalent in size to Ireland. 

“Our defence strategy, such as it is, is based on sticking plasters and Hail Marys - that’s it,” Mr Power said. 

“We may not be in NATO but we are allied with Europe on a variety of different levels. 

“You would want to have been living on the far side of the moon not to realise that - we are interdependent. 

“But we have chosen for some cognitive dissonant reason to opt out of any kind of defence engagement.”

Main image: Russian Spy Ship The Yantar. Picture by: British MOD.