MOSCOW, May 13. /TASS/. The Russian Black Sea Fleet on Friday marks 233 years since its foundation. This year it will receive more new vessels and submarines as compared to other fleets. Its underwater component will be fully equipped with six newest Project 636.3 submarines. The fleet will also receive three patrol ships. The first of these, the Admiral Grigorovich, has already left Kaliningrad and is due to arrive in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol in late May.

Today vessels of the Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla "confidently perform the tasks of strategic deterrence ensuring security in the region in the south-western strategic direction," newly-appointed commander of the Russian Navy Admiral Vladimir Korolyov has said.

The Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff is preparing estimates of the number of new ships the Black Sea Fleet needs, in accordance with the new State Armaments Program.

Advisor to the Chief of the General Staff Admiral Igor Kasatonov earlier told TASS that the recent developments in Crimea and in Syria have proved the need to develop the Black Sea Fleet. "If strikes are launched on targets in Syria from the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea Fleet, if such a task is assigned, can fire at the Gulf area and even further. The fleet has good prospects as long as preference is given to its underwater component," Kasatonov said.

Ships of the Black Sea Fleet are on permanent combat duty as part of the Mediterranean squadron re-formed in 2013.