Deputy Commander of the Naval Forces of Ukraine announced the future construction of a new ship for the Ukrainian Navy during his interview for one of the Odesa TV channels in March 2017. Kuznya on Rybalsky was specified as the lead manufacturer.[1]
Ukrainian shipbuilder PSC Kuznya on Rybalsky launched a new medium reconnaissance ship for the Ukrainian Navy on 23 April 2019.[2]
On 20 October 2019 an unfinished middle-sized reconnaissance ship of the Laguna project was launched in Kherson, after which it made a crossing of the Dnipro river to Odesa for completion and commissioning.[3]
According to Dumskaya sources in the Ministry of Defense, it was named "Simferopol" - in honor of the capital of the occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Transmitted by the National Industrial Portal. The decision to give the new reconnaissance ship such a name expresses the connection between generations of ships of this class in the Ukrainian Navy, serves to support and symbolize Crimea's affiliation with Ukraine, and is a sign of support for the captain of the Simferopol project 861, who is oppressed by Crimean occupation authorities.[4]
In particular, various antennas will be installed during the works, namely the Melchior radio intelligence station and other systems.