Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg hosted the main naval parade dedicated to the Day of the Navy. Photo: Sergey Karpukhin / TASS
On Navy Day, the President of Russia, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief received the Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg and addressed the participants of the holiday and the country with a speech.
– Comrade sailors and foremen, midshipmen and officers, generals and admirals! Dear Veterans! Dear citizens of Russia!
I congratulate you on Navy Day!
For centuries, our Navy has been and remains the indestructible guardian of the borders of the Motherland, its pride and glory. Therefore, celebrations in his honor are celebrated by all of Russia, all of our people.
Today we congratulate the brave crews of ships and submarines, the intrepid pilots of the naval aviation, the personnel of its ground services, the courageous soldiers of the coastal troops and our fearless marines.
We bow with gratitude to all generations of Russian shipbuilders, naval commanders and sailors. His brilliant education, loyalty to duty and the Fatherland, professionalism and talent largely determined the great fate of Russia.
Since the time of Peter the Great, our Navy has served its country with devotion and selflessness. His chronicle includes triumphant victories in sea battles, voyages around the world and great geographical discoveries, outstanding achievements in science and technology.
More than once the Russian fleet stood in the way of the enemy like an impregnable fortress. We remember the heroic defense of Port Arthur and Sevastopol, Petropavlovsk and Leningrad, the courage of the marines, sailors who defended Moscow, Stalingrad, the Arctic, who seized bridgeheads on the Dnieper and Danube.
The history of the development of our Navy has shaped its essence, its main purpose. It is to protect the Homeland.
This year is marked for our brave Fleet by a number of memorable events, today’s parade is dedicated to them – the Baltic Fleet is 320 years old. 290 years – North, and 240 years – Black Sea.
Each of them has its own glorious story. Together with the Pacific Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla, they constitute an indestructible stronghold of our country’s defense capabilities, reliably ensure Russia’s national interests in the World Ocean and firmly preserve the ancient precepts of maritime military fraternity, the traditions of honor, nobility and love for work.
The hard naval day-to-day demands the utmost responsibility, professionalism and determination. Ready to fight on equal terms with the elements of the sea, you know the power of unity. Disregarding the risk, the hardships of service and the long separations, you understand the great value of family and home. From generation to generation you transmit the most sacred thing: loyalty to the Fatherland.
It is patriotism that is the basis of a special naval culture, which helps to adequately fulfill all state tasks, arouses in our people the invariable admiration of military sailors, the pride of our fearless Navy.
More than a hundred years ago, Pyotr Stolypin called this pride “proof that the people have the strength, they have the ability to keep the sea in their power.”
Today, Russia is confidently implementing the large-scale tasks of its national maritime policy and is constantly building the power of its Navy. This year alone, 30 ships of different classes will be added to your membership.
Among those who took up combat duty is the Mercury missile corvette. It receives its name in memory of the immortal feat of the crew of the legendary brig. Nearly two centuries ago, he single-handedly defeated two battleships. It is gratifying that the tradition of giving his name to the ships of the Russian fleet has been revived.
On the new “Mercury” the naval flag of St. George is also flown – as a sign of the inviolability of our naval traditions, a symbol of courage, courage and inflexibility of military sailors.
These qualities are fully manifested today. On behalf of Russia, our sailors give all their strength, show true heroism, fight bravely, like our great ancestors.
I thank the personnel of the Russian Navy for the impeccable fulfillment of the tasks before you, for their reliability, diligence, constancy, for their impeccable devotion to the Motherland!
Glory to the Russian Navy!
Hurrah!
