From RIA Novosti:  Russia needs Mistral class amphibious assault ships to boost the combat capabilities of its Navy in the Far East and ensure protection of the disputed Kuril Islands, Russia’s top military commander said on Tuesday.

Russia is negotiating the purchase of at least one French-built Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, worth 400-500 million Euros (around $540-$675 million) and plans to build three more vessels of the same class in partnership with the French naval shipbuilder DCNS.

"We need this ship to increase the maneuverability of troops in the Pacific Ocean considering the size of this geographical region and the lack of adequate forces to protect, in particular, the Kuril Islands," chief of Russian Armed Forces Staff Gen. Nikolai Makarov said. …

Makarov said the existing Ivan Rogov class ships are four-five times smaller than the Mistral and could not satisfy the modern demands of the Russian Navy.  (photo: Vladimir Viatkin/RIA Novosti)

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