Defense Ministry: Status of Cruiser Avrora Grows

18.10.2012 "As a museum ship, status of cruiser Avrora will grow", a source in Russian defense ministry told Central Navy Portal commenting the ship's reassigning to Central Naval Museum.

As for the officer, Avrora will receive considerable preferences. For one, the cruiser's museum exposition will have an opportunity to become wider and more attractive.

"The museum ship is not supposed to be a duty station for military personnel", explained the staff officer. "If we're talking about professional armed forces, maintaining of museums or particular showpieces cannot be upon military servicemen. They must be engaged in real combat training, master present-day weapons and be ready to use their skills in practice. Sailors must sail the seas. That is what the naval service means, but not sweeping deck of the ship moored forever as a monument".

According to the source, the ship will be guarded by private security agencies.

Recall that sailors of 148-th Training Unit being attached to the veteran cruiser Avrora left the ship for the permanent duty station in Vyborg. Despite public appeals to the President via Governor of St. Petersburg and parliamentary requests, defense ministry is gradually translating its schemes into actions.

Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Viktor Chirkov reiterated the viewpoint of defense ministry saying that no other decisions would be made on cruiser Avrora.