Putin Promises Russian Navy 40 New Vessels

Vladimir Putin says Russia’s Navy will get 40 new ships and vessels this year.

The Russian President attended a Navy Day parade in St Petersburg.

Forty-six ships and vessels and more than 4,000 troops were on show for the event, which was aimed at demonstrating “the growing power of our navy”, Mr Putin said.

He said 40 ships and vessels of different classes will enter service this year.

Mr Putin went on to say the Russian Navy’s combat capabilities will be boosted by the addition of hypersonic weapons.

Opening the parade, he said: “six more vessels for the far-sea zone were laid down at Russia’s three leading shipyards” in the past few days.

The Kremlin has prioritised military modernisation amid tensions with the west following Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Earlier this week, Mr Putin attended a ceremony of keel-laying of new warships in Crimea.

He pledged to continue a programme of building new warships and said Russia needs a strong navy to defend its interests and “help maintain a strategic balance and global stability.”

Cover image: Vladimir Putin during a meeting at the Kremlin (Picture: PA).