After Russia unveiled the Voyevoda, a new rescue ship operating in the Baltic Sea, some military observers suggested that the vessel could serve as “Putin’s yacht.”
According to The War Zone, the Voyevoda was recently delivered to the Baltic branch of the Russian Maritime Rescue Service by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The Voyevoda belongs to the Project 23700 class, developed by the Severnoye Design Bureau, as confirmed by the ministry’s press service.
The Project 23700 class is a very large cutter, with a displacement of 7,500 metric tons, a length of 111 meters, and a beam of 24 meters. Its performance includes a speed of 22 knots and a range of 5,000 miles.
The contract for the ship’s construction was signed in December 2016 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. While the delivery target was initially set for November 2019, it was repeatedly postponed.
Sea trials only began in December 2023, a process that took two years. Now, the Voyevoda has officially entered service.
The ship’s main purpose is to conduct and support a wide range of maritime rescue operations, including outside the Baltic Sea. But, according to some reports, that’s not all.
Looking more closely at the specifications of the Project 23700 class, the vessel is very well equipped in terms of accommodations, according to documentation published by the Yantar Shipyard.
These include eight residential units with bedrooms, bathrooms, and offices, a conference room, a passenger infirmary with pantry, and multiple walking areas, far beyond what would normally be found on a rescue ship.
Because of this, some have claimed that the Voyevoda is primarily intended to serve as a yacht for Russia’s “chief executive,” President Vladimir Putin. It’s worth noting that these concerns are not new.
“The architecture and functionality described for this vessel resemble the type of expedition yacht currently popular,” said Alexander Bogdashevsky, director of Ameta, to the Russian daily Kommersant in 2017.
“The design, however, is very utilitarian, falling short of a full yacht for a private client, but perhaps that is intentional. I believe there is every reason to think that the vessel’s true purpose does not align with its stated goals and will be used for the specific needs of high-ranking government officials.”
Despite the rumors, no official confirmation regarding the true use of the Voyevoda has been released by Russian sources. For now, the Voyevoda is officially serving in the ranks of the Maritime Rescue Service as an emergency rescue ship.
Photos: X / Yantar. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
