Kamchatka sub base to get overhaul

Russia's leader is visiting the town of Viluchinsk on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the country’s Far East. It’s the main atomic submarine base for Russia's Pacific fleet.

President Vladimir Putin met with commanders of the fleet's two nuclear submarines –  the ‘Magadan’ and  the ‘Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky’  and inspected the vessels and crews.

He also paid a visit to the headquarters of the 16th Submarine Squadron.   

With a population of about 45,000 people, Viluchinsk was specially built to support and supply Russia's Pacific Fleet.

The submarine base was almost closed several years ago, but plans now are to make it one of the most modern in Russia. According to a top Russian commander, Viluchinsk will be the first-ever to have everything a base like that needs. Changes include not only the port facilities, but also the social infrastructure, from sports fields to new housing.  

Vladimir Putin said he was satisfied with what he saw in Kamchatka.

While being there, the Russian President tried his volleyball and bowling skills at the new sports center in Viluchinsk. First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov also tried his luck at the game and was equally successful.