Russia navy chief vows to build more warships

Russia will build more warships, both surface vessels and submarines, to ensure the country's security, the Itar-Tass news agency reported on Sunday, citing the navy commander-in-chief Vladimir Masorin.

"It is second in its might in the world. We should not feel shy, but be proud of our navy, which now has strategic submarine forces equipped with nuclear weapons," Masorin told a warship naming ceremony in Baltiisk, the main base for the Baltic Fleet.

Russia launched last month its first new generation nuclear submarine, the long-delayed Yuri Dolgoruky, since the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, amid President Vladimir Putin's strive to reinforce the military forces.

Russia has planned to build eight of the Borei-class (Arctic Wind) submarines by 2017, which were expected to be the core of the country's naval nuclear strength.

"Our country, despite all changes, has preserved capabilities of building ships of all classes," Itar-Tass quoted Masorin as saying.

Source: Xinhua