Russian military ship spotted by Coast Guard near Alaskan coast

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter on routine patrol around Alaska's Aleutian Islands came across a Russian ship in international waters but within the U.S. exclusive economic zone, officials said.

The crew on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley on Monday detected the vessel about 30 miles southeast of the Amukta Pass, the Coast Guard said in a Friday statement. A helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak also spotted the vessel.

The vessel was "transiting in international waters but still inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone," which extends 200 nautical miles from the U.S. shoreline, according to the statement.