Ukrainian cruiser Ukrayina
The Ukrainian cruiser Ukrayina is a Slava-class cruiser ordered by the Soviet Union in the early 1980s. In 2010 the Ukrainian parliament stripped the ship of its name.[1] The ship is moored at the Mykolayiv Shipyard (former 61 Kommunara Shipbuilding Plant).
Unfinished cruiser Ukrayina at shipyard imeni 61 Kommunara in Mykolaiv on December 7, 2013 | |
History | |
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Name: | Ukrayina, formerly Admiral Flota Lobov |
Builder: | 61 Kommunara Shipbuilding Plant (SY 445), Mykolaiv |
Laid down: | 1983 |
Launched: | 1990 |
Status: | Unfinished, docked in Mykolaiv. |
Badge: |
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General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Slava-class cruiser |
Displacement: | 11,490 tons |
Length: | 186.4 m (611.5 ft) |
Beam: | 20.8 m (68.2 ft) |
Draft: | 8.4 m (27.6 ft) |
Propulsion: | 4 COGOG gas turbines, 2 shafts 121,000 shp |
Speed: | 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) |
Range: | 7,000 nmi (13,000 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
Complement: | 480 |
Sensors and processing systems: |
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Electronic warfare & decoys: |
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Armament: |
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Armor: | Splinter plating |
Aircraft carried: | 1 Ka-25 or Ka-27 Helicopter |
History
The ship was laid down in 1983 and launched in 1990 just before the fall of the Soviet Union. Due to budget constraints work on the cruiser stopped in the early 1990s and the ship was left unfinished. In 1993 the cruiser was withdrawn from the Russian Navy and passed to Ukraine. In 1997 Ukraine stated that it had no need for the cruiser and was willing to sell it. Russia was unwilling to buy the cruiser, China and India were then approached but showed no interest at the time.[2] In addition, the U.S. government has asked the Ukrainian government to stop supplying military technology to China in exchange for NATO accession and economic assistance.[3] According to Ukrainian sources the Cruiser needs 30 million dollars to be finished.[4]
Status
The cruiser sits docked and unfinished at the harbor of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine.[5]
In April 2010, sources from the Russian defense committee claimed that Russia had plans to buy the unfinished cruiser from Ukraine and in May 2010, after talks with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev in Kiev, Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych stated that they had come to an agreement to finish the ship together.[6][7] On 21 January 2011, Russian navy sources stated that Russia was only interested in obtaining the cruiser if they can have it free of charge. By early March 2011, Russian defence minister Anatoly Serdiukov stated that Russia was still waiting for an acceptable offer from Ukraine, regarding potential procurement of the missile cruiser. His Ukrainian counterpart Mikhail Yezhel responded that he would not scrap a 95% complete warship, and that the issue would be resolved in the near future.[8][9]
It was reported that the Ukrainian government invested 6.08 million UAH into the ship's maintenance in 2012.[10]
On March 26, 2017, it was announced that the Ukrainian Government will be scrapping the vessel which has been laid up, incomplete, for nearly 30 years in Mykolaiv. Maintenance and construction was costing the country US$225,000 per month.[11][12]
On August 18, 2018, it was reported that Brazil is interested in acquiring the ship, have it undergo extensive modernization and transfer it to the Brazilian Navy.[13][14]
On September 19, 2019, the new director of Ukroboronprom Aivaras Abromavičius announced that the ship will be sold.[15]
References
- Hardus, M. The harsh reality: is Ukraine ready to fight at sea (Суровая реальность: готова ли Украина воевать на море). "Apostrof". 29 January 2016.
- "Russia, Ukraine to Sell Soviet Missile Cruiser - Kommersant Moscow". kommersant.com. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- "Ukraine's path to Nato complicated by close ties to China". South China Morning Post. 3 July 2018.
- "Kiev Eager to Sell Missile Cruiser - Kommersant Moscow". kommersant.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- "Абромавичус пропонує продати ракетний крейсер "Україна"". LB.ua.
- "Russia to help Ukraine finish construction of missile cruiser". RIA NOVOSTI. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- "Russia's ready to bring back cruiser Ukraina". rusnavy.com. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- "Russia won't buy uncompleted cruiser from Ukraine". rusnavy.com. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- "Russia waits for Kiev's acceptable decision on the missile cruiser sale". rusnavy.com. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- "Ukraine Invested UAH 6 mln in Maintenance of Ukraina Cruiser". rusnavy.com. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- "Symbolic End: Missile Cruiser 'Ukraine' Being Sold Off for Scrap Metal". sputniknews.com.
- "Ukraine to Sell Off 'Flying Dutchman' of its Navy as Defense Industry Drowns". sputniknews.com.
- "Недобудований ракетний крейсер проекту 1164 можуть передати Бразилії".
- "Tamandaré: Ucrânia oferece corveta 58250 e cruzador inacabado de offset". www.portosenavios.com.br.
- The new head of Ukroboronprom is thinking to sell the cruiser "Ukrayina" (Новий глава Укроборонпрому задумав продати крейсер "Україна"). Ukrayinska Pravda. 19 September 2019