Russia launches second Yasen-class submarine

March 31 (UPI) -- Russia's second Yasen-class submarine was launched at the Sevmash shipyards in Severodvinsk, the country's state-controlled media reported.

Kazan, a nuclear-powered vessel, departed the port following a ceremony attended by high-ranking Russian military officials and their industry partners.

"The launch of an advanced multi-role submarine of the improved project Yasen-M is quite an event for the whole of the country, its armed forces and its navy," Admiral Vladimir Korolyov said during the ceremony, according to the TASS news agency. "We are in the process of creating a submarine group capable of coping with missions around the world and maintaining Russia's security."

The launched submarine has been under construction since 2009 as part of the Kremlin's plan to build a total of seven Yasen-class submarines by 2023. The Kremlin contracted Russian firm St. Petersberg Naval Bureau of Machine-Building to design the ship.

Russian forces expect to formally receive Kazan in 2018.

Yasen-class submarines are one of the Kremlin's several undersea projects. Russian state media reported in February two new diesel-electric submarines are scheduled to be launched in 2017.