In January 2013 Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu announced plans to recommission Aurora and make her the flagship of the Russian Navy due to her historical and cultural importance.[14] On 21 September 2014 the ship was towed to the Admiralty Shipyard in Kronstadt to be overhauled,[2][15] to return in 2016.[16] On 16 July 2016 she returned to her home harbour in Saint Petersburg.[17]