01:13France: Russian sailors return to Smolny frigate after training on Mistral-class Vladivostok
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Russian navy personnel returned to the Russian navy frigate 'Smolny' in the French port of St. Nazaire on Monday, after completing training on board the Mistral-class helicopter carrier the 'Vladivostok'.
The Smolny vessel has served as a floating barracks for the approximately four hundred sailors taking part in professional training on the Vladivostok, which is set to be Russia's first Mistral-class helicopter carrier.
The Vladivostok left Saint-Nazaire on September 13 for the tests, and the ship is expected to return to sea on Tuesday.
The carrier is to be deployed by the Russian Navy in 2014, after the $1.2 billion contract for the manufacture of the Mistral-class ships was signed by French ship builder DCNS and Russia's state-run arms trade intermediary Rosoboronexport in 2011.
The French government has been under duress by other Western powers, especially the USA, to suspend the transaction between Rosoboronexport and DCNS, citing Russia's stance on the Ukraine crisis.
French President Francois Hollande stated he would not approve of the transfer of the vessel unless the situation in Ukraine improved, but flip-flopped on his position earlier in September. The French premier has told press he will reassess the transfer of the carrier in October as the deal forges ahead.
01:13:
Russian navy personnel returned to the Russian navy frigate 'Smolny' in the French port of St. Nazaire on Monday, after completing training on board the Mistral-class helicopter carrier the 'Vladivostok'.
The Smolny vessel has served as a floating barracks for the approximately four hundred sailors taking part in professional training on the Vladivostok, which is set to be Russia's first Mistral-class helicopter carrier.
The Vladivostok left Saint-Nazaire on September 13 for the tests, and the ship is expected to return to sea on Tuesday.
The carrier is to be deployed by the Russian Navy in 2014, after the $1.2 billion contract for the manufacture of the Mistral-class ships was signed by French ship builder DCNS and Russia's state-run arms trade intermediary Rosoboronexport in 2011.
The French government has been under duress by other Western powers, especially the USA, to suspend the transaction between Rosoboronexport and DCNS, citing Russia's stance on the Ukraine crisis.
French President Francois Hollande stated he would not approve of the transfer of the vessel unless the situation in Ukraine improved, but flip-flopped on his position earlier in September. The French premier has told press he will reassess the transfer of the carrier in October as the deal forges ahead.