People across Russia gathered for Navy Day festivities on Sunday, showing their support to naval soldiers. Ships, submarines, aircraft, troops, and even robots were paraded at harbors in Vladivostok, Sevoromorsk, St. Petersburg, and Sevastopol.
Navy Day, which commemorates the victories of Russian sailors, is
celebrated each year on the last Sunday in July.
The Pacific Fleet’s large landing ship, Nikolay Vilkov, appeared
before the crowd in Vladivostok. Also present were the large
anti-submarine ship Marshal Shaposhnikov, fleet destroyer Bystry,
and the parade's flagship – guard missile cruiser Varyag. Alagez,
a unique ship designed to rescue submarine crews, also took part
in the festivities.
The naval aviation and deep-sea manned rescue vessel AS-30 also
debuted at the Vladivostok parade this year.
A Platforma-M robot was also used to simulate a fight with
saboteurs. A Navy helicopter was tasked with finding the
“enemy” with an acoustic power station, accomplishing
the mission in five minutes.
One of the surprises of the show was a waltz performed by
tugboats, with the vessels spinning to a tune performed by the
Pacific Fleet's orchestra. Amphibious APCs which descended from
the Peresvet landing vessel and made it all the way to shore left
the crowd impressed.
The celebration in Vladivostok concluded with a fireworks display, which was seen from almost everywhere in the city.
Putin arrives in Severomorsk, promises more ships
Russia President Vladimir Putin went to the northern city of
Severomorsk aboard the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral
Kuznetsov. There, he congratulated military sailors and pledged
more investment into the Navy.
“The might and glory of our fleet will only increase. Its
defenses readiness and mobility will be boosted; its material and
technical base will be strengthened; its coastal infrastructure
will be modernized. New ships will be built,” Putin said.
The Navy performed 43 expeditions this year, which were aimed at
protecting Russia maritime interests and countering piracy, the
president said.
Twenty-six new warships have been built in the country, seven of
which have already been passed to naval forces, he said. The
construction of 60 military vessels is currently underway at
shipyards across Russia, he added.
In his speech, Putin paid special attention to the Black Sea
Fleet. Moscow acquired its main base in March, following the
Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol's accession to Russia.
“Strengthen the combat power of the Black Sea Fleet is, of course, among our priorities. We’ll modernize its vessels and create a modern military and social infrastructure,” he promised.
Sevastopol celebrates first Navy Day as Russian city
Sevastopol also marked Navy Day with a sea parade, which was
attended by thousands of new Russian citizens.
This year’s parade was especially spectacular, as a ban on the
use of aviation and missile firing was removed.
Eighteen ships and boats, 28 aircrafts and helicopters, 10
support vessels, and 19 units of coastal forces took part in the
display.
“The Black Sea Fleet has been and always will be playing the
most important role in insuring stability in the region. The
toughness and self-possession of our sailors allowed the Crimea
to reunite with Russia while maintaining peace at the
peninsula,” Admiral Aleksandr Vitko, a Black Sea Fleet
commander, said.
Russia begins construction of two submarines
The construction of two new submarines has begun at Sevmash
shipyard in the city of Severodvinsk, located in Russia’s
northern Arkhangelsk Region.
The strategic missile submarine Knyaz Oleg and multi-purpose
nuclear submarine Krasnoyarsk “will become the backbone in
the next several decades,” Deputy Defense Minister Yury
Borisov said.
Russia’s deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin, who also arrived
in Severodvinsk, stressed that equipping the country’s Navy with
modern technology is especially important when NATO is trying to
impose “its own agenda” on the world.
The Russian Navy is currently in possession of 60 submarines; 10
of those are strategic nuclear subs and more than 30 are
multi-purpose subs.