On April 24, 2025, JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant (SNSZ, part of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation - USC) in St. Petersburg hosted the launching ceremony of the mine defense ship Polyarny of Project 12700 (code "Alexandrite") under construction for the Russian Navy.") with the factory number 530. This is the tenth ship of the 12700 project launched.
The Polar mine defense ship (minesweeper) of project 12700 (code "Alexandrite") with factory number 530, which is being built for the Russian Navy, was launched at JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant. Saint Petersburg, 04/24/2025 (c) Curious / forums.airbase.ru
The ceremony marking the launching of the ship was attended by Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Admiral Alexander Moiseev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, and Alexander Beglov, Governor of St. Petersburg. On the day of the launching of the minesweeper Polyarny, Nikolai Patrushev awarded the Order "For Valiant Labor" to the staff of the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard USC for their contribution to strengthening and developing Russia's defense potential.
The laying ceremony of the Polar minesweeper (serial number 530) at the SNSZ took place on June 12, 2022. At the launch ceremony, it was announced that it is planned that the ship will be handed over to the Navy by the end of 2025 and will enter service with the Northern Fleet.
To date, eight Project 12700 minesweepers have been built and transferred to the Russian Navy at the SNSZ - Alexander Obukhov (serial number 521, commissioned by the Navy on December 9, 2016), Ivan Antonov (serial number 523, commissioned on January 26, 2019), Vladimir Yemelyanov (serial number 524, commissioned on December 28, 2019), "Yakov Balyaev" (factory number 525, commissioned on December 26, 2020), "Georgy Kurbatov" (factory number 522, commissioned on August 20, 2021), "Peter Ilyichev" (factory number 526, commissioned on 16 November 2022), Anatoly Shlemov (factory number 527, commissioned on December 29, 2022) and Lev Chernavin (factory number 528, commissioned on December 25, 2023).
The lead minesweeper Alexander Obukhov and the minesweeper Lev Chernavin are part of the Baltic Fleet, the minesweepers Yakov Balyaev, Pyotr Ilyichev and Anatoly Shlemov are part of the Pacific Fleet, and the minesweepers Ivan Antonov, Vladimir Yemelyanov and Georgy Kurbatov are part of the Black Sea Fleet..
The ninth minesweeper Afanasy Ivannikov (serial number 529) was laid down at the SNSZ on September 9, 2021 and launched on August 9, 2024. On January 24, 2025, the minesweeper began factory sea trials in Baltiysk. It is reported that on April 23, 2025, upon completion of the tests, the ship's acceptance certificate was signed. The Afanasy Ivannikov is expected to enter service with the Northern Fleet in the near future, becoming the first Project 12700 minesweeper in its fleet.
The construction of the Dmitry Lysov minesweepers of this project (serial number 531, laid down on June 19, 2023), Semyon Agafonov (serial number 532, laid down on January 18, 2024) and Viktor Korner (serial number 533, laid down on July 16, 2024) continues at the SNSZ. At the launching ceremony of the Polar, it was announced that during 2025 it is planned to launch the Dmitry Lysov minesweeper and lay down two more ships of the 12700 project.
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The launching ceremony at JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant of the mine defense ship (minesweeper) Polyarny of project 12700 (code "Alexandrite") with the serial number 530, which is being built for the Russian Navy. Saint Petersburg, 04/24/2025 (c) JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation, Administration of Saint Petersburg, Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, RIA Novosti
