ByREUTERS
Updated:

The United States Coast Guard detected a Russian military ship on October 29, approximately 15 miles south of Oahu, near US territorial waters, it said on Thursday in a statement.

A Coast Guard aircraft and cutter "responded to the Russian Federation Navy Auxiliary General Intelligence ship Kareliya," the Coast Guard said.

"Acting in accordance with international law, Coast Guard personnel are monitoring the Russian vessel's activities near US territorial waters to provide maritime security for US vessels operating in the area and to support US homeland defense efforts," the Coast Guard said.

Territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from shore, Coast Guard affirms

The Coast Guard said under international law, foreign military vessels may "transit and operate outside other nations’ territorial seas, which extend up to 12 nautical miles from shore."

A nautical mile is slightly longer than a regular mile, with 12 nautical miles being equivalent to approximately 13.8 miles.

Russian warships leave a port during naval drills, which are staged by the Baltic Fleet forces of the Russian Navy, part of the military exercises Zapad-2021 opened by Russia and Belarus, in the Baltic Sea town of Baltiysk in Kaliningrad Region, Russia September 9, 2021
Russian warships leave a port during naval drills, which are staged by the Baltic Fleet forces of the Russian Navy, part of the military exercises Zapad-2021 opened by Russia and Belarus, in the Baltic Sea town of Baltiysk in Kaliningrad Region, Russia September 9, 2021 (credit: REUTERS/VITALY NEVAR)

The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.