The fleet has always been the country’s invincible guardian, its pride and glory, the president told sailors
Russian President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu, attends a parade marking Navy Day in St. Petersburg. © Sputnik / Alexander Kazakov
Russia continues to expand its marine power, with 30 new vessels to be put in service this year alone, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, as he reviewed the annual Navy Day parade in St Petersburg.
Russia celebrates Navy Day annually on the last Sunday of July. This year, the display in St Petersburg featured 33 warships and boats, four submarines and eight sailing vessels, the Defense Ministry said. Some 3,000 personnel took part in the parade, it added.
Putin greeted the sailors from aboard a cutter and then delivered a speech after coming ashore.
“For centuries, our fleet has been and remains the invincible guardian of the borders of our Fatherland, its pride and glory,” he said.
The president reminded his audience that, since the times of Peter the Great in the early 18th century, the Russian fleet had achieved numerous victories in naval battles and had performed many round-the-world cruises, all the while recording various geographical, scientific and technological discoveries.
This year marks the 320th anniversary of Russia’s Baltic Fleet, the 290th anniversary of the Northern Fleet and the 240th anniversary of the Black Sea Fleet, he pointed out.
Putin stressed that Russia has in the recent past continued to build up its naval power, saying “this year alone, 30 ships of various classes have joined its ranks.”
“Among those that have taken up combat duty is the Mercury missile corvette. It’s named after the immortal feat of the crew of the legendary brig. Almost two centuries ago, it single-handedly defeated two battleships,” he said.
The president was referring to events in 1829 during the Russian-Turkish war. Back then, the brig Mercury, commanded by Captain-Lieutenant Aleksandr Kazarsky encountered two Turkish battleships in the Black Sea. The advantage in the number of cannons was 184 to 20 in the enemy’s favor, according to historic sources, but the much smaller Russian vessel was able to deliver so much damage to the battleships that they were forced to retreat.
The 2023 naval parade in St Petersburg took place in the wake of the Russia-Africa Summit, with several African leaders remaining in the city in order to witness the event.
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Naval parades were also held on Sunday at the main bases of the Baltic, Northern, Pacific Fleets and the Caspian Flotilla, as well as in Novorossiysk on the Black Sea and in the Syrian port of Tartus on the Mediterranean Sea.
