A new aquarium is being set up at Moscow’s VDNKh exhibition centre as part of a large-scale redevelopment and will include orcas, despite ongoing controversy about keeping cetaceans in captivity.

The VDNKh – a relic of the Soviet era which is part way through its €1.5bn (US$1.9bn, £1.2bn) revamp as modern Russia seeks to glorify the past under President Vladimir Putin – announced plans for the 40,000sq m (430,000sq ft) aquarium, which will feature a variety of rare marine life, the orcas being the main attraction.

Vancouver Aquarium and SeaWorld have become the focal points in the debate over keeping sea mammals captive. Vancouver Aquarium is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the city’s Park Board over cetacean breeding rules, while SeaWorld has been under intense pressure following the release of the documentary Blackfish, leading to a drop in share value, numerous big names withdrawing support for the company and the announcement it would be expanding its current orca habitats at all of its US parks.

Moscow officials have said the city has already purchased the killer whales for the aquarium, which are currently being cared for in the Far East.

The aquarium, which would be more than ten times the size of its nearest rival in Moscow, is expected to be completed by the end of 2015, although costs for the development have not been revealed.

VDNKh recently celebrated its 75th anniversary and is in the process of being redeveloped after much of the site fell into disrepair after the collapse of the Soviet Union

Tensions over the Ukraine crisis have seen a 20 per cent drop in the number of international tourists visiting Russia and it’s hoped the revival of the VDNKh and other spaces across the city could help to tempt tourists back to Moscow.

"These works are a priority for the city of Moscow," said Sergei Kapkov, chief of the city's cultural affairs department, who also said that a city-wide renovation was underway to make Moscow a “trendy” location for both domestic and international tourism.

Works are only in their infancy at VDNKh, with around €60m (US$77.5m, £47.7m) spent of the €1.5bn masterplan.

Last week the facility officially opened Europe’s largest skate park in Ostankino Park, which will also includes more than a dozen playgrounds, a football field, hockey rink, several ponds, hiking trails and bike paths.

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