In a recent interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Nikolai Patrushev, a significant adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, shared insights about the Russian Navy’s anticipated progress.
Patrushev, who manages national maritime policy matters, highlighted that the Navy is stepping into a new phase of advancement under Putin’s leadership.
Known for his strong advocacy of the Kremlin’s policies, Patrushev, a former KGB colleague of Putin’s from St. Petersburg, has been actively supporting Putin’s decisions, including the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Our fleet’s quality must outstrip that of other maritime nations to meet state requirements,” Patrushev emphasized, stressing the need for a robust navy equipped to operate in various maritime regions efficiently with a well-established logistical setup.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Viktor Yevtukhov, mentioned plans for the Russian Navy to acquire around 50 new ships and support vessels this year, indicating an accelerated effort to recover losses incurred during the conflict.
Recent activities of the Russian Navy in international waters have attracted significant attention, particularly the deployment of vessels like the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan to the Caribbean Sea for military drills.
However, amidst these developments, the Russian Navy has faced setbacks during the conflict, including the loss of its flagship vessel, the Moskva, and damage to a substantial part of the Black Sea Fleet due to Ukrainian forces’ actions.
Following relentless attacks by Ukrainian forces, Russia had to relocate warships from Crimea to Novorossiysk and Feodosia, impacting naval operations in the region.
Notably, a section of Russia’s annual naval parade in St. Petersburg, traditionally coinciding with the Day of the Russian Navy on July 28, had to be partially canceled this year after eight consecutive years of full celebrations.
The cancellation of the main parade in Kronstadt, with a smaller event now scheduled in St. Petersburg on the Neva River, demonstrates the challenges faced by the Russian Navy in organizing such high-profile events post the invasion of Ukraine.
A recent British Ministry of Defence assessment highlighted this cancellation as a sign of Russia’s struggles in ensuring the protection of its naval forces, indicating a growing vulnerability.