In a significant move to bolster its navy, Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that the country is expected to receive more than 40 vessels this year. The upgrades aim to enhance the navy’s combat potential and strengthen Russia’s presence in strategically important regions of the world ocean.
Putin highlighted the progress made in shipbuilding during a meeting on the issue, emphasizing the acquisition of new ships by the Russian navy. Despite significant losses during its war against Ukraine, Russia is set to surpass the number of ships and boats received in previous years with these upgrades forming part of a larger plan to comprehensively enhance the navy’s capabilities.
The boost in naval capacity will involve upgrading ship, aircraft, and coastal components as well as infrastructure at naval bases. Putin stressed that these improvements will significantly enhance Russia’s combat potential and enable it to maintain a strong presence in key strategic regions of the world ocean.
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia’s navy has faced substantial losses with Adm. Sir Tony Radakin of the UK’s armed forces stating that a quarter of Russia’s vessels in the Black Sea had been sunk or damaged by Ukraine. The impact of Putin’s actions in Ukraine has rendered its Black Sea Fleet essentially inactive. However, this announcement marks a significant step towards reinforcing Russia’s naval capabilities and presence on the global stage.
As of now, Russia’s defense ministry has not responded to requests for comments on these naval upgrades outside regular business hours. Nevertheless, these enhancements represent a crucial development for Russia as it seeks to rebuild its military strength and assert its dominance on the global stage.