Russian defense minister says Pacific Fleet to get 12 new warships by end of year

MOSCOW

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu held a working meeting with the leadership of the Russian Navy on Friday in the Primorsky Krai region in the Far East.

The minister announced that 12 warships will enter the Russian Pacific Fleet’s service by the end of the year in addition to the two that are already on active duty, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The minister noted that over the past 10 years, the Russian Navy has got more than 50 warships.

“The improvement of the Navy allows us to defend the geopolitical interests of the country, and respond appropriately to new challenges and threats,” the minister said at the meeting.

Shoygu noted that the Russian Navy “protects national interests, supports the safety of sea routes, and conducts operations in different parts of the world.”

Currently, the focus is on projects of multipurpose nuclear submarines, robotic systems, and unmanned underwater vehicles, he said.

• Russian Defense Ministery
• Russian Pacific Fleet
• Sergey Shoygu