In early November, Russia will receive the first Mistral
Berlin - Kyiv, October 30 (PolitNavigator, Vasily Ablyazimov) - The supply of Mistral class warships from France to Russia was jeopardized due to the crisis in Ukraine. But now France, apparently, wants to deliver helicopter carriers, despite the sanctions. "They're perfect for invasions," writes the German Die Welt.
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On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, somewhat unexpectedly for the European media, announced that the first of two warships built in France would come into the possession of the Russian Navy on November 14. Rosoboronexport received an invitation to the consecration of the ship, named Vladivostok.
In early September, French President Francois Hollande said that the contract for the supply of military vessels was in “limbo” and announced plans to reconsider his opinion only when a ceasefire was established in eastern Ukraine.
However, Hollande seems to have now reconsidered his supposedly decisive position, the German publication writes. On Tuesday, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed that Hollande had decided to deliver the ship in early November.
Within a few weeks, the first test sails of the helicopter carrier Vladivostok will be made on the Atlantic coast. The 350 Russian marines who will serve on the ship are also already at the training site.
The decision to sell two Mistral-class ships to Russia was made under the Sarkozy government in 2011. Failure of the contract could cost at least 1,2 billion euros. Around 1000 jobs in the region depend on this work.
Mistral-class ships can transport tanks and helicopters, and can also serve as a command center for naval group control. These ships, the German newspaper believes, are a universal offensive weapon and are ideal for a quickly planned invasion of the territory of neighboring countries.
In Kyiv, there were repeated protests near the French Embassy demanding that the Mistral contract be terminated.
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