Putin inaugurates new Russian icebreaker

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday to inaugurate the new Russian icebreaker Viktor Chernomyrdin.

Construction of the diesel icebreaker began in 2012 but suffered several mishaps and delays including a fire in 2018.

The ship is now being touted as Russia's most powerful non-nuclear powered icebreaker.

Speaking at the ceremony in St Petersburg, Putin said ships such as these had "a special importance" to Russia.