The Russian Navy’s Vishnya-class intelligence ship Viktor Leonov (SSV-175) passed through the Strait of Gibraltar on April 14, 2025, and headed towards the Mediterranean. This information, shared by an X-user named Peter Ferrary and including images of the ship in the strait, was also confirmed by various maritime monitoring sources. This movement is considered part of Russia’s strategy to increase its naval presence in European waters, especially in areas close to the coastlines of NATO member countries.
Viktor Leonov's Scope and Abilities
Viktor Leonov is a ship designed primarily for electronic and signals intelligence (SIGINT/ELINT) gathering missions. Built under Project 864, the ship has the ability to detect enemy electronic signals, disrupt their communications, and continuously monitor the electromagnetic spectrum in strategically important areas. Thanks to its advanced antenna and sensor systems, Viktor Leonov can effectively monitor military activities taking place in large sea areas such as the Mediterranean or the North Sea. The ship’s deployment to the Mediterranean is expected to replace another Russian intelligence ship, the Kildin, which recently left the region, and ensure the uninterrupted continuity of Russia’s surveillance operations in the region.
Increased Russian Naval Activity in European Waters
The arrival of Viktor Leonov in the Mediterranean comes at a time when Russia’s maritime intelligence activities in European waters are intensifying. Since early 2025, several Russian warships have been observed near the United Kingdom and the Scandinavian countries, particularly in strategic areas such as the North Sea and the English Channel. This situation is being closely monitored by NATO countries. For example, on March 5, 2025, the Royal Navy’s HMS Somerset monitored the Russian corvette Boikiy for three days as it escorted a military cargo ship from a Russian naval base in Tartus, Syria. NATO maritime patrol aircraft were also involved in this surveillance operation.
In another incident, on 19 March 2025, the Royal Navy resumed surveillance of a significant Russian naval group passing through British waters. The group, consisting of the destroyer RFN Severomorsk, the landing ship Alexander Shabalin and two transports, MV Sparta IV and MV Siyanie Severa, was accompanied by HMS Somerset, the minelayer HMS Cattistock, the tanker RFA Tidesurge and Royal Navy helicopters. The operation began with the Russian naval group entering the North Sea, and a Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft also participated in surveillance operations.
Russia's Strategic Goals and NATO's Response
According to Army Recognition’s analysis, such “raids” by Russian intelligence vessels in European waters may be Russia’s way of testing NATO’s defensive readiness and responsiveness. At the same time, these activities may also have strategic objectives, such as gathering sensitive intelligence, maintaining a constant military presence in the region, and exerting psychological pressure on the West. From a geopolitical perspective, these missions can be seen as a form of “unconventional power projection” aimed at demonstrating Russia’s ability to operate near critical Western military and civilian infrastructure, including naval bases, submarine communications cables, and strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Gibraltar. NATO countries continue to closely monitor such Russian naval activity and take necessary precautions.
