Last week, the Royal Netherlands Navy's patrol vessel DSS Galatea escorted three Russian ships in the North Sea, the frigate Admiral Levchenko (Udaloy class), the cargo ship TME Sparta and the oil tanker General Skobelev. The three ships entered Dutch waters from the north.
Russian units frequently transit the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is permitted under international law. Even though an internationally agreed right of passage applies to the EEZ, Dutch navy ships escort Russian and Chinese ships at all times in order to deter them from carrying out acts of sabotage and espionage.