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Naval front: Putin appreciated the role of sailors in his military and predicted the collapse of Ukraine
The special military operation was a response to the war that the Kiev regime, with the support of the West, unleashed in the Donbas back in 2014, Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with military personnel on the Day of the Russian Navy. Talking about the long—term consequences of the conflict, he predicted the loss of Ukraine's western regions in favor of its current "allies" - since for many years it was Russia that remained the guarantor of Ukraine's territorial integrity, but Kiev declared Moscow its enemy. Putin also emphasized the role of the Navy in solving the tasks of its defense, protecting the Kaliningrad Region and the Arctic, and called for protecting our merchant shipping from piracy. What else the president talked about with the military in St. Petersburg is in the Izvestia article.
How is it going and what can happen to Ukraine
On July 26, Vladimir Putin arrived in St. Petersburg in honor of Navy Day. The president traditionally holds this holiday in the northern capital— the cradle of the Russian navy. The city was decorated with St. Andrew's flags and congratulatory banners for the holiday. Every now and then you could meet men in vests and caps with the names of fleets on them. One of them recalled that this year's holiday is really special — 330 years have passed since the Boyar Duma under Peter the Great decided: "There should be naval vessels."
President of the Russian Federation, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin at a festive reception at the Main Admiralty in St. Petersburg in honor of Navy Day
But at a meeting with Navy personnel that day, Vladimir Putin talked much more not about history, but about the current situation, and above all about HIS own. He once again recalled that Russia is currently fighting the neo-Nazi Kiev regime.
—We did not start any war, we only began to respond to those hostilities, to this war, which was unleashed by the current Kiev regime with the support of the West,— the president stressed, referring to Ukraine's attempts to seize the LPR and DPR, which have been undertaken since 2014. Despite the fact that these regions, the then south-east of Ukraine, historically "have always been oriented towards Russia," Putin stressed.
There is no unity in Ukraine now, the country is being rocked by corruption scandals one after another, which forces the entire leadership to shake up, the Russian president drew attention.
— They all got into fights there, quarreled like spiders in a bank, split the money they stole from the Ukrainian people, or steal from their Western sponsors. They divide and eliminate each other from the world, run abroad, hide, come back again, and so on. What kind of unity is there? — said Putin.
He also predicted the imminent collapse of Ukraine, which would eventually lose its western territories, which the Russian president called a post—war "gift" from Joseph Stalin. It was Russia that remained the only guarantor of Ukraine's territorial integrity for many years, Putin recalled, but Kiev declared Moscow its enemy.
— I am sure that sooner or later Ukraine will lose these Western lands. And what belonged to Poland, belonged to Hungary, belonged to Romania. Sooner or later, not tomorrow, maybe not the day after tomorrow. A year, two, ten, fifteen [years]. But everything will historically fall into place," he said.
Ukraine may indeed lose its western territories, since honoring nationalists and infringing on the rights of national minorities causes discontent among neighbors, Alisa Kazelko, an expert at the Valdai Club, told Izvestia. Such a scenario will become possible in the event of the collapse of Ukrainian statehood, which Poland, Hungary and Romania can take advantage of.
Putin said that the Navy, including the Marines, play a crucial role in solving the tasks of a special military operation and remain a key element of ensuring national security.
"The skills of our Marines and their naval personnel, multiplied by their resilience, courage and audacity, today largely determine the course of a special military operation," the president noted.
Vladimir Putin also outlined the situation with the threats provoked by the Ukrainian conflict. Thus, a number of Western countries, including the United Kingdom, have adopted the practice of detaining merchant vessels, including tankers, under the pretext that they are acting in the interests of Russia.
—I want to draw your attention to the fact that in such cases, of course, it is necessary to act carefully, within the framework of international maritime law, but resolutely, as it is necessary to fight piracy and pirates," Putin said.
The Head of State also expressed hope that the Russian Navy would effectively protect the Russian merchant fleet.
Putin said that the security of the Kaliningrad region in the event of threats would be ensured by all the capabilities of the Russian Federation, and the Baltic Fleet should be at the forefront. The authorities of neighboring Lithuania had previously threatened her with attacks.
Putin noted that Russia has every opportunity to protect its interests in the Arctic in conditions when foreign submarines try to enter, for example, the routes of the Northern Sea Route.
How is the Russian Navy developing
The main events of the holiday unfolded in the Admiralty building, where the Main Command of the Russian Navy is located. As last year, the naval parade was not held for security reasons. Nevertheless, Vladimir Putin was solemnly greeted by a guard of honor, as well as Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Navy Commander Alexander Moiseev and Presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev. Congratulating the Navy personnel on their professional holiday, the President noted that the Navy plays a major role in maintaining global parity through the development of the maritime component of the nuclear triad.
— Ship complexes deliver striking blows to the enemy with high-precision weapons. The Marines are marching forward, fighting valiantly, skillfully and fearlessly. The whole country supports them and is waiting for them to return home with a victory. My warmest congratulations on the holiday to the soldiers and commanders who are currently on the firing lines," said Vladimir Putin.
In 2026, 20 ships have already been commissioned, including a small rocket ship that protects facilities in the Leningrad region, Alexander Moiseev reported.
By the end of the year, 21 more vessels are expected, and it is planned to complete the repair of the Admiral Nakhimov cruiser. The Head of state then listened via video link to reports from the commanders of the Baltic, Pacific, Northern and Black Sea fleets, as well as the commander of the Caspian Flotilla on the operational situation.
All the resources for the tasks assigned by the president to the Navy are available. In recent years, the fleet has undergone a systematic and large-scale transformation, Pavel Anisimov, Deputy Director of the Institute of International Relations and Political Sciences at the Russian State University of Economics, told Izvestia. The Russian navy has strengthened most significantly in the underwater component, especially in the segment of strategic nuclear forces, where the share of modern designs has already reached 100%.
Launch silos of the Kalibr-NK universal missile system
Significant progress has been made in the serial construction of surface ships, as well as in the development of high-precision, hypersonic and robotic weapons. In particular, the first crewless ship with a displacement of 500 tons is currently under construction, the commander-in-chief said.
Yuri Zverev, director of the Center for Foreign Regional and Regional Studies at the Baltic Federal University, told Izvestia that small Karakurt Project 22800 missile ships with Kalibr-NK cruise missiles continue to be commissioned, and coastal missile forces are armed with modern mobile Bastion coastal missile systems with supersonic anti-ship missiles. "Onyx." Their main task is to provide reliable cover for the Russian waters and coast.
Awards to distinguished sailors
On Navy Day, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief also traditionally honors distinguished sailors. In the officers' hall of the Admiralty, Vladimir Putin presented awards to military personnel, most of whom are young men who distinguished themselves in the battles in their area.
President of the Russian Federation, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin and commander of the assault company of the Marine battalion of the 145th Marine Regiment of the 810th Guards Separate Marine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet Oleg Solomakha
For example, Major Oleg Solomakha, who was awarded the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, participated in the liberation of Alekseevka and Kondratovka in the Sumy region. Guards Junior Sergeant Yuri Malofeev, under whose command the assault group captured five enemy strongholds in Vladimirovka, DNR, in a rifle battle, received the Order of St. George — St. George's Cross IV degree. The President stressed that Russia can be proud of such heroes.
— The Russian Navy was created by the labor, talent, will and victories of many generations. And you have written your names into its great history," Vladimir Putin said.
The commander of the 36th division of surface ships of the Primorsky Flotilla of heterogeneous forces of the Pacific Fleet, Captain 1st Rank Alexei Ulyanenko, who was awarded the Order of Naval Merit, thanked the President for the constant attention paid to the fleet and its development. Putin stressed that Russia will pay the greatest attention to the interests of military personnel and those who defend the interests of the country.
As the Head of state emphasized, the Navy plays a crucial role in solving the tasks of its military.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
