Support The Moscow Times!

Russia's Expanding Navy to Receive 50 More Vessels This Year

According to Russian news website Lenta.ru, not all of the 50 vessels are brand new.

The Russian navy will receive 50 vessels of various sizes and classes this year, navy Chief Admiral Viktor Chirkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency on Monday.

The new boats are part of a rearmament program begun under President Vladimir Putin that aims to provide Russia with a navy capable of operating far away from home — a capability lost after the collapse of the Soviet Union — by 2050. Russia's navy today is largely relegated to a coastal defense role.

"The period of stagnation in the development of our potential has long since passed," Chirkov said.

The expansion of naval power comes as Russia confronts the West over Ukraine, where Moscow has backed separatist militias. Last year Russian soldiers seized the Ukrainian region of Crimea, which hosts a major naval base in Sevastopol.

According to Russian news website Lenta.ru, not all of the 50 vessels are brand new. Some of them are renovated and modernized from various classes of ships, submarines and smaller combat boats.

Among the brand new vessels slated to be delivered to the fleet are surface ships and nuclear submarines of the Borei- and Yasen-classes — modern vessels that are already replacing Russia's aging Soviet-era underwater nuclear forces.

The navy is also anticipating new vessels include new frigates and patrol boats to join its ranks this year.

Chirkov also said the shipbuilding program would develop port infrastructure and overhaul the training process for Russian sailors, Interfax reported.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more