"I can confirm that the Russian sailors will return (to Russia) before the end of year," a DCNS spokesperson said.
The shipbuilder did not name a specific date for the Russian crew's departure neither did confirm whether the sailors would return to France for more training. However on Tuesday the French Ouest-France newspaper said that the sailors would leave France before December 25.
The Russian sailors have been undergoing training since June on the Vladivostok, the first of two Mistral-class ships, which France has to deliver to Russia under a $1.6 billion deal signed in 2011.
On December 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow expected the Mistral contract to be implemented. "However, if not, then we will have no major complaints, but of course we hope that the money that we paid under this contract will be returned to us," Putin said.
Earlier on Wednesday, a high-ranking source told RIA Novosti that the construction of infrastructure for the Mistral-class vessels in the Russian Far East is still underway.
