Russian spy ships pass through the Faroe Islands

Following claims that Russian fishing ships mooring there were being used for spying, Faroese Foreign Minister Høgni Hoydal issued a warning to Copenhagen saying it was up to the Faroe Islands to respond to the presence of Russian fishing ships in their harbors.

Following claims that Russian fishing ships mooring there were being used for spying, Faroese Foreign Minister Høgni Hoydal issued a warning to Copenhagen saying it was up to the Faroe Islands to respond to the presence of Russian fishing ships in their harbors.

Although the Faroe Islands are an independent territory of Denmark with its own government and judicial system, they are still a part of that country. Copenhagen is in charge of the Faroe Islands’ defense and foreign policy, however they are permitted to negotiate international treaties in the trade and fishing sectors, which are under their purview.

Hoydal made his comment after Nordic media outlets revealed that between 2015 and 2022, more than 200 times, two Russian fishing vessels with military radio equipment docked in Faroese harbors. These ships may have been utilized for espionage, according to suspicions.

The ships transporting Russian military hardware, according to Søren Pape Poulsen, the head of the opposition Danish Conservative Party, fall under the purview of foreign and security policy, making them an issue for Copenhagen to address.

Power source and the receiver seem to be typical HF radios from the Soviet era. Photo: Norsk politi.

The Faroe Islands, a non-EU member, supported the sanctions against Russia during the invasion of Ukraine while maintaining their long-standing trade ties with that country. Contrary to Denmark and the EU, where commerce in food goods is immune from sanctions, the Faroe Islands permitted the largest Russian fishing vessels into Faroese harbors.

Hoydal claims that the Faroese government has increased regulations on all fishing, cargo shipping, and related activities. He further stated that there would be repercussions for any illegal actions in Faroese waters.

Although acting Danish defense minister Troels Lund Poulsen (Liberal Party, Renew Europe) emphasized that the Faroese fisheries agreement with Russia is a Faroese matter, Hoydal claimed that he hears different nuances in the Danish government’s statement on the matter than from the leader of the Conservative Party.

Photo: Fishing boats in the port of Torshavn, capital and largest city of the Faroe Islands. According to research by several media, fishing ships from Russia spied there. © Imagebroker / Imago Images