23.03.2010
Russia will help to equip Zaporizhzhia, the only submarine in Ukrainian Navy, said Vice Admiral Oleg Burtsev, Deputy Chief of Russian Navy Main HQ in interview to Ekho Moskvy radio station.
"We accelerate our efforts since we have Ukraine's request to render assistance in equipping of the sub which they have repaired", pointed out O. Burtsev.
According to the admiral, relations between Russian and Ukrainian navies are becoming "reasonable and humane".
Diesel submarine
Zaporizhzhia was built in 1970. Throughout service in Soviet Navy, she covered 13,000 nautical miles, carried out 14 cruises including that to Cuba, and won Navy Commander's Prize for torpedo firing.
Since official separation of Soviet Black Sea Fleet in 1997, the sub had been under repairs at Ukrainian defense shipyard in Balaklava. Being in Ukrainian Navy,
Zaporizhzhia has never taken the sea.
Since 2003 the sub has been repaired at 13th shipyard of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
Source: , photo: Zaporizhzhia diesel submarine (flot.sevastopol.info, A. Brichevsky)
