Russia’s Navy Day, a tradition held on the last Sunday of July, was canceled for a second consecutive year. President Vladimir Putin met marines in front of an imagery of a vessel instead of actual naval ships, attracting online ridicule.
Typically, Navy Day showcases Russia’s maritime strength, featuring warships on St. Petersburg’s Neva River, naval parades, and aircraft flypasts. However, this year saw no such fanfare. Sources from the Russian defense ministry informed St. Petersburg’s Fontanka news outlet that no instructions were issued to organize the parade. A Navy spokesman mentioned, “it’s not the right time.” Last year, security concerns led to the event’s cancellation. This year, official reasons were not provided, but Ukrainian drones have targeted sites in Russia’s second city, despite air defense systems. On July 24, St. Petersburg witnessed smoke clouds following strikes on sites related to online retailer Wildberries, causing commercial flight disruptions.
Instead of the usual grand event, Putin delivered a smaller speech to sailors at the Admiralty, the city’s Navy headquarters. Footage captured him acknowledging marines before a submarine image, which drew mockery from pro-Ukrainian social media users. Military News UA noted that Russia’s parade lacked an actual fleet, substituting banners with ship images. Nexta echoed this sentiment, posting footage and commenting, “Putin embarrasses himself on the world stage again!” The incident was briefly scrubbed from official Kremlin sites, as noted by Nexta, but persisted online. United 24 Media commented on social media: “Putin organized a Navy Day parade without a fleet.” Pro-Ukrainian user Jürgen Nauditt highlighted the absence of actual ships, showcasing the current state of Russia’s navy.
Putin’s Statements Amidst Mockery
Despite the setback, Putin used Navy Day to reiterate Kremlin viewpoints on the Ukraine war. He emphasized the Russian Navy’s significance in Moscow’s war objectives and global security strategy. He assured defense of interests on the Northern Sea Route and Kaliningrad’s security against potential threats, citing its significance if hostilities with NATO arise. Acknowledging the war’s cost, Putin signaled continued high military expenditure, stating resources are repeatedly needed for “the success and achievement of the goals of the special military operation.”
A Washington, D.C.-based think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), evaluated remarks by Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev about developing unmanned system regiments in the Northern Fleet. According to ISW, part of this development aimed to safeguard Russian assets from increased Ukrainian strikes in the Black and Azov seas.
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