Regions Party leader Viktor Yanukovych has said that Ukraine and Russia should implement an international agreement on completing the construction of the Ukraina guided missile cruiser.
“There’s an opportunity to complete this cruiser with Russia. This is stipulated in an agreement with Russia signed in 1993,” he told reporters in Mykolaiv on Saturday while attending the 61 Communards Shipyard.
Yanukovych said that this agreement could be implemented if Ukraine and Russia take the necessary decisions.
The construction of the Ukraina guided missile cruiser (formerly known as the Admiral Lobov) was launched at the Mykolaiv-based 61 Communards Shipyard in 1984, following an order from the Soviet Navy. Since May 1992, the cruiser has been built at the request of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
In April 205, the defense ministers of Ukraine and Russia decided not to complete the cruiser as the two countries’ armed forces did not need such a powerful vessel.
Ukrainian officials said that UAH 5 million is annually spent to maintain the cruiser.
According to experts, the cruiser is currently 92-93% complete.
