Ireland–Russia relations

Ireland–Russia relations are the bilateral relations between Ireland and the Russian Federation. Ireland has an embassy in Moscow, and Russia has an embassy in Dublin. Relations have been tense since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russian bombers have deliberately flown into Irish-controlled airspace several times, and have had to be intercepted by the Royal Air Force. Russian spy ships have also been observed mapping undersea communications cables and energy pipelines off the Irish coast. There has also been controversy over Russian plans to hold naval drills in Ireland's exclusive economic zone. Because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Irish government imposed sanctions on Russia and expelled Russian diplomats suspected of espionage. Russia responded by expelling Irish diplomats and declaring Ireland an "unfriendly country".