KIEV, July 16 – The Defense Ministry will soon carry out sea trials of the Zaporizhia submarine.

"The putting to sea of the Zaporizhia submarine is a significant event, as a whole generation of the Naval Forces, the submarine force, is being revived. In the near future, this submarine is to submerge and sea trials will be held underwater," the first deputy chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vice Admiral Ihor Kabanenko, said at a press conference in Kiev on Monday.

"When the sea trials of the Zaporizhia submarine are finished, it will become an integrated combat ship," he added.

Kabanenko also reported that the Defense Ministry is doing serious work to restore its combat equipment. According to him, since the beginning of the year, 10 aircraft have been restored, and by the end of 2012 another 30 are to be renovated.