Russia Cannot Build New Ships Until Ukrainian Engines Substituted

Russia is currently unable to construct new ships for its Naval fleet because of the lack of Ukrainian-built gas turbine engines, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday.

OMSK (Sputnik) – Russia plans to begin constructing its own gas turbine engines in 2018, Rogozin said.

“In regard to armaments and military equipment from Ukraine, we are substituting 186 items, the first one being gas turbine engines that have historically always been produced in Ukraine. Because of this, we cannot build new ships for the Navy.” 

Kiev terminated a 1993 agreement on defense technology cooperation with Russia in May.

Following the announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the termination put many Ukrainian defense companies on the brink of bankruptcy.