ST. PETERSBURG, July 30. /TASS/. A massive naval parade involving cutting-edge combat ships, gunboats and submarines took place on the Neva River in St. Petersburg to celebrate Russia’s Navy Day.
Russian President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin reviewed the Main Naval Parade on the Neva River in St. Petersburg. The Russian leader traditionally reviews the naval parade that takes place on Russia’s Navy Day on the Neva River and makes the rounds along the parade formation of combat ships in the Kronshtadt roadstead aboard a presidential review boat. Upon opening the event, he delivers his congratulations to the sailors of the Russian Navy.
Last year, Russia’s Main Naval Parade involved over 40 combat ships, gunboats and submarines of Russia’s Northern, Pacific, Baltic and Black Sea Fleets, 42 aircraft and helicopters and over 3,500 troops.
Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov reported to President Putin about the readiness for the naval parade.
The tradition to hold the Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg "to honor glorious victories of the Navy that made a substantial contribution to defending the Fatherland" emerged in 2017. The relevant decree was signed by President Putin. The first Main Naval Parade took place on the Neva River on July 30, 2017.
This year, Russia’s Main Naval Parade involved 45 combat ships, gunboats and submarines of the Northern, Pacific, Baltic and Black Sea Fleets and about 3,000 troops.
Russian Navy to receive 30 combat ships this year
Russia persistently builds up the might of its Navy that will receive 30 combat ships of various classes this year alone, President Putin said at the Main Naval Parade on the occasion of Russia’s Navy Day.
"Today Russia confidently implements its large-scale objectives of the national maritime policy and persistently builds up the might of its Navy. This year alone, 30 warships of various classes will join it," the Russian leader said.
The combat ships that have entered service with the Russian Navy include the missile corvette Merkury named in honor of the Black Sea Fleet’s sailing ship that gained its glory in the 1828-1829 Russo-Turkish War, the head of state pointed out.
"It is good that the tradition of giving its name to Russian Navy ships has been revived. The St. George’s naval flag was raised aboard the new Merkury as a sign of our preserved naval traditions, a symbol of courage, valor and steadfastness of naval sailors," Putin said, stressing that "these qualities are displayed in full today as well."
Naval parade
A group of anti-saboteur boats opened the naval parade on the Neva River. The anti-saboteur boats Nakhimovets and Yunarmeyets Dagestana, the amphibious assault boats Alexey Barinov and Ivan Pasko, the coastal minesweeper Pavel Khenov and the missile corvettes Uglich and Sovetsk passed in a parade formation across the Neva River.
The static show on the Neva River included the Project 677 large submarine St. Petersburg, the cutting-edge Lada-class large diesel-electric submarine Velikiye Luki, the Project 21631 Buyan-M-class missile corvette Zelyony Dol, the Project 22800 Karakurt-class missile corvette Burya and also sail ships. The Project 11540 frigate Neustrashimy was turned into the naval event’s flagship to exercise control of the parade procession.
The combat ships that participated in the Main Naval Parade in the Kronshtadt roadstead included the missile corvettes Mytishchi and Boiky, the frigate Admiral of the Soviet Fleet Gorshkov, the large anti-submarine warfare ship Vice Admiral Kulakov, the nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Severodvinsk, the small anti-submarine warfare ship Zelenodolsk, the Project 22800 missile corvette Odintsovo, the Project 21631 Buyan-M-class missile corvette Grad, the Project 20380 corvette Stoiky, the Project 20380 Guards corvette Soobrazitelny, the large amphibious assault ship Ivan Gren, the large anti-submarine warfare ship Severomorsk, the training ship Smolny, the coast guard ship Sochi, the Varshavyanka-class large diesel-electric submarine Ufa and other vessels.
Foot parade
The foot parade involved cadets of the St. Petersburg Nakhimov naval school, the Sevastopol Nakhimov naval school, consolidated battalions of cadets of naval educational institutions, the marine infantry training center and a consolidated group of Young Army youth patriotic movement.
Russia’s main naval event was also celebrated at the Russian naval bases in Vladivostok, Baltiysk, Severomorsk, Novorossiysk, Kaspiysk and at the Tartus naval logistics facility in Syria.
Foreign guests at Russia’s Main Naval Parade
Four African leaders and representatives of another five countries that had participated in the second Russia-Africa summit and forum in St. Petersburg on July 27-28 attended Russia’s Main Naval Parade.
The honorable guests included the leaders of Burkina Faso, the Republic of the Congo, Mali and Eritrea, and also the deputy chairman of the Sovereign Council of Sudan, the prime minister of the United Republic of Tanzania and the vice president of Equatorial Guinea.