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The head of state took part in the keel-laying ceremony for two Project 22350 frigates – the Admiral Amelko and the Admiral Chichagov, designated for combat missions in offshore maritime zones. Along with Navy veteran, Hero of the Russian Federation Vsevolod Khmyrov the President attached the storm board on the first frigate; a commemorative plate on the second frigate was attached by Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov.

Then, shipbuilders completed the joining of the prefabricated hull sections of the Project 20386 corvette Mercury. The corvette is designed to protect marine economic facilities.

During a videoconference, Vladimir Putin watched the keel-laying ceremony for two large landing ships – the Vasily Trushin and the Vladimir Andreyev – at the Yantar Baltic Shipyard in Kaliningrad, and the launch of the Belgorod nuclear-powered submarine at the Sevmash Production Association in Severodvinsk.

Severnaya Verf is one of Russia’s leading defence companies. Since its founding in 1912, it has built about 600 surface ships and commercial craft for the Navy and civilian fleets, including missile cruisers, air defence ships, large anti-submarine ships and destroyers, as well as passenger and cargo vessels. Today, Severnaya Verf’s portfolio of orders includes series of frigates and corvettes as well as vessels of various civilian designations. The President had a brief conversation with the plant’s workers.

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Speech at the keel-laying ceremony for two Project 22350 frigates – the Admiral Amelko and the Admiral Chichagov

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, comrades, friends.

I am happy to greet all of you on this festive day. Today we will see a range of exciting events that are important for the national shipbuilding industry, for boosting the country’s defence capability, and, therefore, important for Russia as a whole. There are many events here, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that all of them highlight a new stage in the development of the country’s Navy.

The keel leying of two frigates with additional strike weapons will take place here at the Severnaya Verf in St Petersburg. Construction of two Landing craft is being launched at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad. These ships bear the names of our outstanding compatriots who glorified the Russian Navy, Admiral Chichagov, Admiral Amelko, Vladimir Andreyev and Vasily Trushin.

In addition, sections of the lead corvette Merkury, named after a heroic Black Sea Fleet ship, will be assembled here at the Severnaya Verf. A new nuclear-powered submarine, named after Belgorod, a Russian city of military glory, will be launched in Severodvinsk.

I expect the planned construction schedule to be maintained. This is of paramount importance for the ambitious plans to strengthen the Navy, to reliably defend Russia’s maritime borders and to protect our interests in the world’s oceans, both near and far.

I would like to note that Russia has been upgrading ships at a good rate in the past few years. This will remain the case as we move forward; we still have a lot to do. Therefore, we will certainly support the national shipbuilding industry; we will increase and expand its employment, research, technology and production potential.

Since 2012, the Navy has received over 80 warships and speedboats, including three strategic missile submarines, seven multirole submarines and 21 surface warships.

I would like to thank all those who are present here and who are working at other sites, including the workers, engineers and designers who create new ships and send them off to sea. I would like to thank everyone who works at facilities in St Petersburg, Kaliningrad and Severodvinsk, as well as other national shipyards. Your work proves that you can accomplish the most complex and ambitious tasks. I am confident that you will continue to do this, and that we will certainly enhance Russia’s status as a great naval power by working together.

I would like to once again congratulate everyone on today’s outstanding event. I wish you good luck and all the best. I wish successful service to the future crews of these new warships. As they say in these situations, I wish you seven feet under the keel.

Thank you.