Russian sub in West PH Sea conducted no suspicious activities – AFP

RARE SIGHTING Contributed photo shows the Russian Navy’s Ufa submarine surfacing on Philippine waters last Thursday. The 74-meter-long vessel is capable of firing Kalibr cruise missiles, which were used recently against Ukraine.

MANILA, Philippines — The Russian attack submarine, which surfaced in the West Philippine Sea last week, did not conduct any “nefarious activities” in the region, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said this after he was asked if there is a possibility that Ufa 490 is spying on the country.

“Given again the context of the situation, it was first detected 80 nautical miles off Lubang Island stationary, meaning to say it was not underway,” Trinidad said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

READ: Russian sub in West PH Sea awaiting clear weather, enroute to Vladivostok – AFP

“After a few hours, it was already noticed that it was traveling at a slow speed from three to six knots all the way up north. It is unlikely that they were conducting any nefarious activities,” he added.

Earlier, the AFP said the submarine was reportedly awaiting improved weather conditions in the West Philippine Sea before heading to Vladivostok, Russia,

“Upon receiving the report, the PN immediately deployed assets to monitor and address the situation, ensuring the security of Philippine waters,” the AFP said in a statement on Monday.

READ: West PH Sea: Marcos says Russian submarine sighting ‘very worrisome’

AFP added that one of the Navy’s deployed assets, BRP Jose Rizal (FF150), “established radio communications with the submarine, which confirmed its identity, crew complement, and navigational intent.”

Reports revealed that the submarine came from Malaysia and did not submerge as it moved slowly northward, remaining outside the country’s territorial waters until the weekend.

Upon hearing this, the National Security Council downplayed the sighting last week of a Russian attack submarine in Philippine waters, even as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called this development “very worrisome.”