"As part of the Navy's surveillance effort, the NRP Setúbal was deployed to accompany the Russian federation's refuelling vessel, the MOD Altay Kola, continuing the surveillance effort initiated by the allied countries and NATO in the North Sea", reads in the communiqué sent to Notícias ao Minuto.

The Navy's ocean patrol vessel accompanied the ship from the north coast of Portugal to the border of Vila Real de Santo António, covering 362 nautical miles, equivalent to around 670 kilometres.

The Portuguese Navy reinforces that it "maintains an active surveillance of areas of national interest", through its Maritime Operations Centre "ensuring adequate readiness of the means of ships in order to promote and protect the interests of Portugal in and through the sea".

In January, the Navy also monitored the passage of ships from the Russian Federation off the coast of Portugal for several days.

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