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ST. PETERSBURG, June 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia currently has 19 active-duty surface ships and submarines at sea, the Russian Navy commander said Saturday.
Admiral Vladimir Masorin, who was addressing the graduates of Russia's leading naval academy, was the first navy chief in recent Russia's history to disclose in public the exact number of Russian warships on active duty.
The admiral also said that the Russian Navy works on a new class of destroyers, adding that "relevant organizations will start designing a new destroyer in the coming years."
Masorin was appointed Commander of the Russian Navy in September 2005 by a presidential decree replacing former Commander Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov.
