ST. PETERSBURG, July 25. /TASS/. Russia is constantly and successfully improving its naval armaments and can detect any enemy and deliver an inevitable strike against it, if necessary, Russian President Vladimir Putin said ahead of the beginning of the Main Naval Parade on Sunday.
"Russia has taken a worthy place among the leading naval powers within the shortest time possible, passed a colossal way of its development from a modest boat of [Russian Tsar] Peter the Great to powerful ocean-going naval ships and nuclear-powered underwater missile-carrying cruisers, created effective long-and short-range naval aviation, reliable coastal defense systems and the latest hypersonic precision weapons still unrivaled in the world, which we are improving constantly and successfully," the Russian president said.
Today the Russian Navy has all the necessary potential for the reliable protection of the Motherland and Russia’s national interests, Putin stressed.
"We are capable of detecting any underwater, surface and aerial enemy and deliver an inevitable strike against it, if necessary," the Russian leader assured.
Russia has ensured its naval presence actually in all the areas of the World Ocean, Putin said, noting that "faithful heirs of the Fatherland’s naval military glory" were on guard watch in the northern and southern latitudes.
As the Russian leader pointed out, service in the Navy is the most honorable and in-demand duty while skilled sailors and competent commanders serving in the Russian Baltic, Northern, Pacific and Black Sea Fleets and the Caspian Flotilla are known to everyone.
"I am confident that the glory of the St. Andrew’s [Russian naval] flag will never fade away thanks to the professionalism and endurance of naval sailors and pilots, the personnel of marine infantry and coastal defense units and their faithfulness to the Fatherland and the Russian Navy," Putin said.
Russia’s Navy Day signifies the unity of all the generations of the defenders of the Fatherland’s maritime frontiers, the Russian leader stressed.
"It [the holiday] is significant and dear to the whole of Russia and to our people because our Fatherland was put together and strengthened and its glory and grandeur were molded by the valor of naval sailors, their military bravery and the boldness of pioneering explorers," the Russian leader stressed, noting that Russians were rightly proud of the names of outstanding Fleet commanders and talented shipbuilders, all those who bravely fought in different ages and won for the sake of the Fatherland, made geographical discoveries and gave humankind unique knowledge on the diversity and beauty of the vast world.
"The scope and versatility of strategic tasks that our Fleet has always coped with are amazing and cause admiration and pride. In October, it will already mark its 325th anniversary," the Russian president said.
The Russian leader recalled the behests of Russian Emperor Peter the Great sealed in the Navy’s Charter: never to lower the ship’s flag before any force, never to retreat or surrender the ship to the enemy."
"I congratulate you on the holiday! Long live the Russian Navy!" Putin said.