The Irish coast guard is investigating reports of an oil spill from Russian ships off the south coast of Ireland, Reuters cited a naval spokesman as saying today. Public broadcaster RTE quoted the Coast Guard as saying two Russian warships spilt up to 12 tonnes of oil into the sea 250 miles (400 km) off the coast of Kerry on Ireland's southwestern coast. The oil has spread to an area measuring four miles by four miles, RTE said. A naval spokesman confirmed Russian vessels were off the south coast of Ireland and that an Irish navy ship was also in the area. "The Irish coast guard are investigating reports of an oil spill in the area," the spokesman added.