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Main Naval Parade

President of Russia, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin took part in the Main Naval Parade, held in St Petersburg and Kronstadt on Russian Navy Day.

July 30, 2023
11:55
St Petersburg

The President, accompanied by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Nikolai Yevmenov and Acting Commander of the Western Military District Sergei Ryumshin, were aboard the naval cutter Raptor as it sailed around the warships on parade in the Neva River. Vladimir Putin greeted the crews of the small missile ships Zelyony Dol and Burya, the submarine Sankt Peterburg, the frigate Neustrashimy, and the submarine Velikiye Luki. The battleship Poltava, built according to the 18th century drafts and models, led the parade sail ships at anchor.

The vessels that took part in the parade included the counterterror boats P-468, P-474, and Nakhimovets, the landing boats Ivan Pasko and Alexei Barinov with Peter the Great's famous botik, the grandfather of the Russian Navy; the Raptor-class patrol cutters Yevgeny Kolesnikov and P-436, the counterterror boat Yunarmeyets Dagestana, the base minesweeper Pavel Khenov, and the guided missile ships Uglich and Sovetsk. A total of 11 vessels of the Navy and the Federal Security Service were involved in the parade in the Gulf in Finland, along with the diesel-electric submarine Ufa.

At anchor in the Large Kronstadt Roadstead, the submarine Dmitrov, the guided missile ship Mytishchi, the corvette Boiky, and the sailing vessel Mir were on display. The bark Sedov was on show as well.

The parade concluded with a march of ceremonial regiments on Senate Square, featuring cadets as well as boy seamen of the Young Army movement.

Also attending the parade were the heads of state and government and the leaders of delegations of African nations that took part in the Second Russia-Africa Summit. The President of Russia greeted the foreign guests, and had a brief conversation with the President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, and the interim President of the Republic of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traoré.

Vladimir Putin also spoke with the Gorelov family from Magadan, who were awarded the Order of the Parental Glory for having many children. The day before, the President had met with families with many children in the Kremlin and had promised the Gorelovs that he would help them attend the Main Naval Parade in St Petersburg.

The President of Russia, together with the African leaders, sailed to Kronstadt aboard a cutter, taking time to see the warships deployed in the Gulf of Finland. In Kronstadt, Vladimir Putin accompanied his foreign visitors to the Museum of Naval Glory.

* * *

Speech at the parade devoted to the Russian Navy Day

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Fellow sailors and petty officers, midshipmen and officers, generals and admirals, dear veterans, esteemed Russian citizens,

Congratulations on Russian Navy Day!

For centuries, our Fleet has been an indestructible guardian of the frontiers of the Fatherland, its pride and glory. This is why the whole of Russia, all the people celebrate festivities in its honour.

Today we congratulate the brave ship and submarine crews, the fearless pilots of naval aircraft, ground services personnel, courageous soldiers of the coastal forces and our daring marines.

We gratefully acknowledge all the generations of Russian shipwrights, naval commanders and sailors. Their brilliant skills, fidelity to duty and the Motherland, professionalism and talent have determined the great destiny of Russia in many respects.

Since the time of Peter the Great, our Navy has served our country devotedly and whole-heartedly. Its chronicles include triumphant victories in sea battles, round-the-world cruises and great geographical discoveries, outstanding achievements in science and technology.

Time and again, the Russian fleet has stood in the way of the enemy as an unassailable fortress. We remember the heroic defence of Port-Arthur and of Sevastopol, Petropavlovsk and Leningrad, we recall the courage of the marines, the sailors defending Moscow, Stalingrad and the Arctic regions, storming bridgeheads on the Dnieper and the Danube rivers.

The history of development of our Russian Navy has formed its essence, its primary mission, which centers on protecting the Motherland.

This year, our heroic Fleet celebrates a whole range of memorable events, today's parade is devoted to them: The Baltic Fleet is 320 years old, the Northern Fleet, - 290 years, and the Black Sea Fleet, - 240.

Each of them has its proud history. Jointly with the Pacific Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla they form the indestructible stronghold of our country's defence capacity, reliably protect the national interests of Russia in the World Ocean, and firmly guard centuries-old covenants of the naval military brotherhood, traditions of honour, nobility and passion for work.

The rigorous fleet routine requires the highest degree of responsibility, professionalism and decisiveness. Being ready to combat the sea element, head to head, you know the power of unity. Disregarding the risk, rigors of service and long separations, you understand the great value of family and home. You pass the most sacred task from generation to generation: loyalty to your homeland.

It is patriotism that forms the basis of the special fleet culture which enables all state assignments to be carried out in a worthy manner, invariably arousing people's admiration for military sailors, and pride in our fearless Military Fleet.

More than a hundred years ago, Pyotr Stolypin described this pride as proof that the people had the power, the ability to keep the sea under their control.

Today, Russia confidently implements the ambitious objectives of the national marine policy, and steadily increases the power of its Fleet. This year alone, it will be supplemented by 30 ships of different classes.

Among the ships put on combat duty is the guided-missile corvetteMercury, which is named in honour of the unfadable act of courage of the team of the legendary brig. Almost two centuries ago, it single-handedly won a victory over two battleships. It is gratifying that the tradition of naming Russian fleet ships after it has been revived.

The St. George's Ensign - a sign of the firmness of our naval traditions, a symbol of the courage, bravery and steadfastness of military sailors - has been raised on the new Mercury.

These qualities are fully apparent today. Our sailors give their all, display true heroism, fight nobly in the name of Russia, like our great predecessors.

I would like to thank the crew of the Russian Navy for their outstanding accomplishment of the tasks they have been set for their reliability, diligence, firmness and unfailing loyalty to the Motherland!

Glory to the Russian Navy!

Hurrah!