MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on April 17 during a live Q&A with the public that the Ministry of Defense placed a RUB5 billion ($140 million) order with a shipyard in the Crimea.
Moscow also plans to transfer the majority of Russia's support vessels and other ships from Novorossiisk to Sevastopol.
Putin did not specify which shipyard received the contract. Both the Sevmorverf, or Sevastopol, Marine Plant JSC and the JSC Feodosia Shipbuilding Company "Morye" are located in the Crimea.
Under a reunification treaty signed by President Putin on March 21, the Crimea has been reabsorbed into the Russia Federation.