Record number of ships take part in Russian naval parade in St. Petersburg

For the first time in eight years, the Kronstadt part of the military parade in St. Petersburg on Sunday was cancelled, reports say. Moscow Times.

Twenty-five naval vessels took part in the parade, including ships, submarines and four sailing ships, which President Vladimir Putin watched. The statement said that only two ships from the Black Sea Fleet were present: the frigate Admiral Grigorovich and the corvette Mercury, which were based at a Russian military base in Tartus, Syria, this year. BBC.

Last year, 45 ships participated in the naval parade, in 2022 more than 40 ships and in 2021 more than 50.

None of the ships The Ukrainian military claims to have damaged or destroyed ships last year took part in the parade in St. Petersburg. However, ships from countries that Russia considers “friendly” were present: one from India, one from Algeria and two from China.

Naval parades were also held in Baltiysk, Vladivostok, Severomorsk, Kaspiysk and Tartus. Two more Chinese ships took part in Vladivostok.

According to the Dutch Defense analysis site Oryx says Ukraine has destroyed at least 19 naval ships and submarines — and damaged at least seven — since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine claims to have neutralized 27 of its 80 naval vessels, a third of its Black Sea Fleet. Russia has moved several ships to protect it from Ukrainian attacks in the past, and according to Ukraine, all ships have now left the Sea of ​​Azov.