Strong and sovereign Russia needs a powerful and balanced navy. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday at a videoconference ceremony to lay new warships and submarines for the navy.
"I have said many times and I want to repeat it again: strong, sovereign Russia needs a powerful, balanced navy. Today Navy plays a key role in the state security ensuring system, protects our national interests and contributes to the strengthening of strategic parity and international stability", said the head of the state.
Opening the ceremony he congratulated all Russian shipbuilders and seamen on "a new important stage in the development of the national navy". "Today two multi-purpose near-sea ships are being laid in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. And Sevmash and Admiralty Shipyards are building four long-range submarines," the president listed.
Putin noted that the Russian authorities are cherishing "the glorious traditions of the national fleet," strengthening the continuity of the country's unbreakable thousand-year history. "That is why the two new nuclear-powered submarines will bear the names of Dmitry Donskoy and Knyaz Potemkin as a sign of deep respect for the memory and exploits of our outstanding ancestors," he explained.
Two large diesel submarines were named after Mozhaisk and Yakutsk. "And two multi-purpose ships were given names that are traditional for the Russian Navy: Grozny and Buyny," the head of state added.
He separately noted that all ships will be equipped with modern high-precision weapons, the latest means of control and communication. The effectiveness of most of them is confirmed in the course of fulfillment of combat missions in Syria, Putin said.
Development prospects
Russian authorities intend to further develop the country's naval potential and equip the fleet with the latest weapons and equipment.
"We will continue to develop Russia's naval potential, improve the fleet's basing system and infrastructure, equip ships with the latest weapons and equipment, practice complex training and combat tasks at exercises and long-distance sea voyages, conduct demonstration of the Russian flag in strategically important areas of the world ocean," Putin stressed.
Such responsible and large-scale tasks are conditioned by the geopolitical position of Russia and its role in world affairs. Construction of a high-tech efficient navy places high demands on domestic shipbuilders, underlined the President.
As a part of the ceremony that took place via videoconference, the head of the state got in touch from Kubinka near Moscow where the forum Army-2021 opened in the Patriot park.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS