"The frigate D. Francisco de Almeida, during a surveillance and control mission of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), accompanied the passage of the Russian refueling ship 'AOL Yelnya' from Saturday, December 30th, in the south of the Algarve, to the early evening on Sunday, December 31st, outside the ZEE, in the North of Portugal", reads a statement from the Navy sent to Lusa.

Also according to the note, "the importance of this mission emphasizes the Navy's commitment to defending its territory and national interests, as well as that of the Atlantic Alliance".

The Portuguese Navy has been accompanying several Russian ships since the beginning of the year, as they passed off the national coast. These missions have become more frequent since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Just last week, the Portuguese Republic Ship Figueira da Foz accompanied a Russian scientific research vessel ‘Akademik Keldysh’.