Ukrainian cruiser Ukrayina

History
Ukraine
Name: Ukrayina, formerly Admiral Flota Lobov
Builder: 61 Kommunara Shipbuilding Plant (SY 445), Mykolaiv
Laid down: 1983
Launched: 1990
Status: Unfinished, docked in Mykolaiv.
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:
  • Voskhod MR-800 (Top Pair) 3D search radar
  • Fregat MR-710 (Top Steer) 3D search radar
  • Palm Frond navigation radar
  • Pop group SA-N-4 fire control radar
  • Top Dome SA-N-6 fire control radar
  • Bass Tilt AK-360 CIWS System fire control radar
  • Bull horn MF hull mounted sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • Rum Tub and Side Globe EW antennas
  • 2 × PK-2 DL (140mm chaff / flare)
Armament:
Armor: Splinter plating
Aircraft carried: 1 Ka-25 or Ka-27 Helicopter

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]

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 In 1993 the cruiser was withdrawn from the Russian Navy and passed to Ukraine.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] According to Ukrainian sources the Cruiser needs 30 million dollars to be finished.[3]

Status

The cruiser sits docked and unfinished at the harbor of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. 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.[4][5] Because of Ukraine's lack of funds, it is unlikely that the cruiser will be commissioned in the Ukrainian Navy. Many experts believe that Russia will buy the cruiser from Ukraine when finished.[6]

On 18 November 2010, the Ukrainian defense minister Mikhail Yezhel stated that their Russian partners did in fact want to purchase the vessel, but wanted to inspect it before making a definitive commitment.[7]

On 21 January 2011, Russian navy sources stated that Russia is 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]

References

  1. ↑ Hardus, M. The harsh reality: is Ukraine ready to fight at sea (Суровая реальность: готова ли Украина воевать на море). "Apostrof". 29 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "Russia, Ukraine to Sell Soviet Missile Cruiser - Kommersant Moscow". kommersant.com. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Kiev Eager to Sell Missile Cruiser - Kommersant Moscow". kommersant.com. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Russia to help Ukraine finish construction of missile cruiser". RIA NOVOSTI. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Russia's ready to bring back cruiser Ukraina". rusnavy.com. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Russia considers buying back missile cruiser Ukraina". RIA NOVOSTI. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Talks on cruiser Ukraina are in progress, Russians want to inspect her bottom – Yezhel". rusnavy.com. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Russia won't buy uncompleted cruiser from Ukraine". rusnavy.com. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "Russia waits for Kiev's acceptable decision on the missile cruiser sale". rusnavy.com. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "Ukraine Invested UAH 6 mln in Maintenance of Ukraina Cruiser". rusnavy.com. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
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