On 19 September 2009, General Popovkin, Deputy MOD for Armaments, said the MOD is looking into bringing Admiral Lazarev back into service.
Den 19. september 2009 udtalte general Popovkin, Viceforsvarsminister med ansvar for udrustning, at forsvarsministeriet ønskede at lade Admiral Lazarev genindtræde i aktiv tjeneste.