Vladimir Putin and Sergey Shoigu marked the main military
holiday of summer
In the last Sunday of July in Russia, traditionally
celebrated the Navy Day. This holiday has always been a
special celebration of Russian honor, pride and military
power of the navy. This year the holiday was especially
powerful. An official reception to mark Russia's Navy Day
was held at the Admiralty in St Petersburg – Navy capital of
Russia. Also in this city there was the Main Naval Parade,
and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin reviewed
it on the Neva River.
During official reception Vladimir Putin said: ‘The
profession of a navy man in our country has always been an
honourable one that personified courage, valour and
dedication. Such respect is welldeserved: everyone knows
that the naval profession is a difficult and important work.
It means service in the most difficult and rough
environments, often involving long separations from the
family and loved ones. But for a navy man, the noble goal of
serving the Fatherland has always been a top priority.
The high combat readiness and effectiveness of the naval
forces is a major component of ensuring the country's
military capability and its security, as well as the
security of its citizens. And, of course, we will continue
to implement measures aimed at strengthening and developing
the Navy and better equipping its fleet.
This year, the Navy has already received four surface
vessels, one antiterror boat, and three support ships.
Overall, in 2018 the Navy will receive 26 new ships, cutters
and vessels, including four ships with the Kalibr missile
system.
Rearmament and modernisation is making good progress largely
due to the workers of our shipbuilding industry and their
professionalism and responsible attitude. The Navy
infrastructure, including ship base infrastructure, has also
been developing to meet the latest requirements.
The Navy has always been among the first to master
scientific, technical, engineering and design achievements.
Meeting the Navy's current and prospective needs should
further stimulate the development and introduction of
advanced and innovative technologies and serve as one of the
drivers for the technological breakthrough. And this, as
experience shows, will be inevitably followed by the flow of
breakthrough knowledge into the civilian sector.
I am confident that every person who serves in the Navy
knows that they have the entire great history of the Russian
Navy behind them, all the outstanding achievements of our
predecessors and the valour of our respected veterans. I
hope the current generation of navy men will honourably
continue this great history.
The Main Naval Parade that took place on the Neva River this
year, united more than four thousand Navy personnel from the
Baltic, Northern and Black Sea fleets and the Caspian
Flotilla, as well as more than 40 ships and motor boats of
various kinds, along with a Navy aviation group all took
part in the parade.
Before the main part of the parade, the President sailed
round the combat ships, which were lined up for the parade
in the inner harbor of Kronstadt, and welcomed their crews.
The President also visited the Peter and Paul Fortress and
the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.
At the Main Naval Parade Vladimir Putin said: ‘I
congratulate all those who guard the maritime boundaries of
our Motherland, take part in longdistance expeditions, and
all those who have dedicated their lives to the surface and
submarine forces, naval aviation, coastal defence troops,
and who are committed to serving to the glory of the Russian
Navy.
Honour and valour, being true to one’s duty and oath have
always been and will remain the underpinnings of the
spectacular victories won by our Navy. For more than three
centuries now, the Russian fleet has enabled Russia to
affirm its status as a great naval power, capable of
standing up for its national interests and protecting its
shores.
The fleet’s history is personified by the courage, valour
and spirit of its sailors and officers. Their devotion to
the Fatherland served as a guiding light for bold pioneers,
and inspired ship builders to reach new heights by
developing engineering marvels. These glorious traditions
cannot fail to inspire current generations.
The celebration of Navy Day emphasises the power of the
sacred maritime brotherhood that unites all Navy bases and
units of the Baltic, Northern, Pacific, Black Sea fleets and
the Caspian Flotilla.
The Russian Navy has been successful in ensuring our
national defence capability, and continues to make a
substantial contribution to the fight against international
terrorism, while also playing a vital role in guaranteeing
strategic parity. Every day dozens of ships and submarines
ensure the defence of Russia’s interests in any part of the
World Ocean.
We have every right to be proud of our Navy, our Naval
forces, their highclass combat readiness, strategic,
tactical and operational capabilities, as well as the power
and beauty of the Russian fleet.
Our people have always admired the sailors of our Navy,
since only the brave and resilient can shoulder maritime
service, and understand the value of military readiness,
strict discipline, unity and chivalry. Together with having
the latest knowledge and irreproachable skills in mastering
the latest advances in military hardware, these qualities
enable our Navy to deliver on even the most complex
missions.’
