Russia's Black Sea Fleet receives new ships of various types since 2015

MOSCOW - The Russian Black Sea Fleet has received a series of new ships of various types in the past three years, Alexander Vitko, commander of the fleet, told Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper in an interview published Wednesday.

Since 2015, the fleet has received two new frigates, six diesel-electric submarines equipped with cruise missiles, and more than 10 counter-sabotage and patrol boats, Vitko said.

The commander also noted that the Black Sea Fleet was replenished with two powerful new-generation towboats, modular diving platforms, a powerful floating crane, and a number of other support vessels, which immediately began to perform tasks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

The fleet also completed the formation of a submarine brigade, which includes six new large submarines, in the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk, said Vitko.

"Therefore, it is already quite possible to talk about the revival of the Black Sea Fleet's underwater forces," he stressed.

According to Russia's Basic Principles of State Naval Policy until 2030 approved last year by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia aims to build its navy into the world's top two in terms of combat capabilities.

The Black Sea Fleet is a large operational strategic command of the Russian Navy, operating in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.