HAVANA, Jan. 21 (UPI) — Russian intelligence warship Viktor Leonov CCB-175 has docked in Havana on Tuesday, one day ahead of the first official diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Cuba.
The ship’s presence was not officially announced by Cuba, but U.S. defense officials said it’s not alarming.
There is a crew of about 200 in the intelligence ship that was first put into service in 1988. The ship also made unannounced docks in last February and March in Havana.
#Russia Vishnya-class intelligence collection ship ‘Viktor Leonov’ docked in Havana, Cuba pic.twitter.com/oDt8E8kQl1— Alecto (@insananinzoka) March 2, 2014
The U.S. and Cuba are set to have talks seeking to normalize relations after more than 50 years of animosity.
Recently, President Obama released new regulations that eased travel restrictions to Cuba.