US Coast Guard ‘Monitoring’ Russian Military Vessel Near Hawaii

The U.S. Coast Guard said it is monitoring a Russian military vessel that was spotted operating about 15 nautical miles south of Oahu on October 29, officials said Thursday.

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft and the cutter William Hart conducted an overflight and passed near the Kareliya, a Vishnya-class Russian intelligence ship. The Coast Guard said it is tracking the vessel in accordance with international law to ensure maritime security and support U.S. homeland defense efforts.

Foreign military ships are allowed to operate outside a nation’s 12-nautical-mile territorial boundary, but Coast Guard officials said they routinely monitor such activity to protect U.S. interests in the Pacific.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.