Dutch Navy Intercepts and Escorts Russian Warship and Oil Tanker Through North Sea Waters.

The Dutch Ministry of Defense announced on January 21, 2026, that the Royal Netherlands Navy escorted two Russian naval vessels through the Dutch sector of the North Sea. The disclosure underscores NATO’s routine, yet closely coordinated, monitoring of Russian naval movements in European waters.

In a statement released on January 21, 2026, the Dutch Ministry of Defense confirmed that the offshore patrol vessel DSS Galatea of the Royal Netherlands Navy conducted an escort of the Russian Steregushchy-class frigate Boiky and the fleet oiler General Skobolev during their transit through the Dutch sector of the North Sea. Dutch defense officials said the Russian vessels entered Dutch waters from the south and were shadowed until they exited the Netherlands’ European Exclusive Economic Zone, at which point allied NATO naval forces assumed responsibility for continued tracking and monitoring.
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Illustrative image depicting the Russian fleet oiler General Skobolev with an inset showing the Steregushchy-class frigate Boiky. This visual representation highlights the typical configuration of Russian naval groups recently transiting European waters under NATO surveillance. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

The Exclusive Economic Zone, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, extends up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from a coastal state's shoreline, granting it sovereign rights over natural resources and certain economic activities. While military vessels are allowed to navigate these waters under international law, the EEZ is increasingly a critical zone for surveillance, early warning, and the defense of maritime infrastructure, especially amid heightened strategic tensions.

This latest Russian passage is the second within a short period, reflecting a documented escalation in Russian naval presence across multiple European EEZs in recent months. Dutch naval officials reported that DSS Galatea also escorted two separate Russian vessel transits in the past week, illustrating a pattern of persistent Russian movement through strategic maritime corridors adjacent to NATO states. This uptick is mirrored elsewhere in European waters, with allied navies actively observing and, in some cases, directly interdicting Russian maritime activity.

In recent weeks, multiple NATO member states have reported increased Russian naval presence inside or near their EEZs. The Portuguese Navy recently monitored a formation of Russian warships in the Eastern Atlantic as they approached its economic zone. Meanwhile, in Irish waters, defense authorities have tracked a surge in Russian-linked commercial and auxiliary traffic, including suspected vessels from the so-called “shadow fleet,” operating near vital energy and data infrastructure. The UK’s Royal Navy has also tracked several Russian naval units, including the intelligence-gathering ship Yantar, operating off the western approaches and in proximity to undersea cables.

The Boiky, displacing around 2,200 tons, is one of the Russian Navy’s advanced multirole frigates optimized for operations in high-threat littoral environments. Its weapons package includes Kalibr-NK cruise missiles capable of land attack, Redut surface-to-air missile systems, the Paket-NK anti-submarine system, and an A-190 100 mm naval gun. The ship’s radar and electronic warfare systems allow it to operate independently or as part of a task group in contested waters.

Accompanying the Boiky is the General Skobolev, a modern replenishment tanker tasked with sustaining Russian naval units over extended deployments. Its presence alongside a frontline combatant indicates a longer-duration patrol or a probing mission along NATO’s northern maritime perimeter. Such formations have become more frequent in recent months, reflecting Russia’s growing emphasis on persistent naval presence in waters that directly interface with NATO’s critical sea lines of communication.

Dutch forces deployed DSS Galatea in response, a Holland-class offshore patrol vessel built for EEZ enforcement, surface surveillance, and escort duties. Equipped with Thales SEWACO-X command systems, a 76 mm OTO Melara gun, and space for an NH-90 maritime helicopter, the Galatea is well-suited for intercepting and observing foreign warships transiting close to sensitive maritime infrastructure and commercial shipping lanes.

The recent increase in Russian naval activity within European EEZs has raised operational concerns among NATO maritime commands. While these transits are not violations of international law, their timing, frequency, and routes reflect a strategic effort by the Russian Navy to test response patterns, assert presence, and acclimate its units to operating along NATO’s maritime frontiers. The increased tempo also raises alarms over the security of critical undersea infrastructure, including power cables, data networks, and offshore energy platforms that dot the North Sea and wider European maritime zone.

From a military standpoint, these Russian operations represent a calibrated demonstration of sea control capabilities. By maintaining a continuous presence near European EEZs, the Russian Navy is challenging NATO’s maritime surveillance network and reinforcing its message that its naval assets can operate freely in proximity to Western Europe. The fact that these missions are supported logistically by fleet oilers and auxiliaries shows a level of planning consistent with strategic reconnaissance or force projection, not mere transit.

With NATO member states now reinforcing maritime domain awareness across the North Sea, Arctic, and Atlantic corridors, this growing pattern of Russian naval transits is expected to influence future force posture decisions. Nations including the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, and Norway are investing in multi-domain maritime surveillance platforms, underwater sensor networks, and rapid-deployment naval assets to counter the strategic ambiguity posed by these operations.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.