Navy Day in Russia

Russian Navy Day celebrations in Baltiysk, Vladivostok and Sevastopol

A joint parade of Russian and Ukrainian warships was the main event in the Navy Day celebrations of the two countries in Sevastopol. The celebrations started with the raising of national and naval flags on their warships and boats in the Sevastopol Bay. The presidents of Russia and Ukraine congratulated sailors on their professional holiday.

The current celebrations are specific for Russia. This year the Baltic Fleet celebrates its 310th anniversary, while the North Fleet – the 80th anniversary and the Black Sea Fleet – the 225th anniversary.

The warships of the Black Sea Fleet and the Ukrainian Navy paraded together. This is the second time the sailors of the two countries celebrate their Navy Day. This is quite a symbolic event, said Vladimir Putin.

“Symbolically, Sevastopol has become the centre of celebrations. A base for the ships of the Black Sea squadron was set up here in the Akhtiar Bay 230 years ago.Today, we all take part in the naval parade together marking loyalty to the strong principles of our ancestors who lived together for centuries, worked and defended the common fatherland and made it mighty, great and invincible country," Vladimir Putin said.

The formation of the Russian fleet started during Peter the Great. However, the Navy Day was celebrated for the first time in 1939.

At present, the Russian Navy consists of the North, Pacific, Baltic, Black Sea fleets and the Caspian Sea Flotilla. They have 200 warships and boats and 68 submarines. According to the state purchasing programme, the Russian Navy will get another 16 submarines and over 50 warships of various classes.

This year Russia and Ukraine also celebrated the 1025th anniversary of the Christianization of Rus. According to Vladimir Putin, this event emphasizes the commonness of the people of the two countries.

Read more: (English.ruvr.ru/news/Russia-and-Ukraine)

Russia marks Navy Day (2009)