Ship-tracking websites that use the data vessels emit on their identity, position, speed and course show the Milla Moon lifted anchor off Tartus and started cruising northward along Syria's coast on Jan. 23. That was the day of the Kildin fire, also in waters off Tartus, the military officials said.

Sailing off the south coast of England, the Russian trawler known as the Yantar carried its usual array of hi-tech equipment.

The Associated Press has obtained audio of what military officials say is a broadcast from a Russian spy ship that suffered a fire and drifted uncontrolled off Syria’s coast last month

The Kildin, which gathers intelligence on NATO activities in the Mediterranean, was packed with intelligence-gathering equipment when it was caught in flames off the coast of Syria