The Russian Navy has just launched a large-scale exercise, bringing together forces from most of its fleets, including those in the Arctic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Baltic and Caspian Seas.

Russia is considered to have the third most powerful navy in the world, after the US and China.

A minesweeper of the Russian Navy's Caspian Flotilla takes part in naval exercises at an undisclosed location on July 30, 2024. Photo: Straits Times

"The main purpose of the exercise is to check the work of naval authorities at all levels, as well as the readiness of the crews, naval aviation units and coastal forces of the Russian Navy to perform tasks," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on July 29.

The drills, expected to last “multiple days” – involving Russian forces spread across thousands of miles – come a day after Russia’s annual Navy Day celebrations.

The highlight of the event was a speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a parade in St. Petersburg marking the 328th anniversary of the Russian Navy. The event was also attended by crews from China, Algeria and India.

Regarding the above-mentioned combat training of the Russian Navy, according to the announcement of the Russian Defense Ministry, about 20,000 sailors, 300 surface ships and submarines and 50 aircraft will participate. These units, from 4 of the 5 naval divisions of Russia, will practice techniques including the use of anti-aircraft missiles and anti-submarine weapons.

Notably absent from the exercise was the 5th naval division of the Black Sea Fleet. The Crimea-based fleet is said to be struggling to adapt to Ukraine’s tactics of combating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and surface vessels (USVs), and has also suffered significant losses from Kiev’s firepower.

In mid-July, Kiev announced that its Black Sea Fleet had been forced to withdraw its last ship from Crimea. The Ukrainian Navy announced on July 16 that there were no more Russian naval vessels in the waters around the peninsula.

A Russian warship is seen during joint exercises with China in the Pacific Ocean in 2023. Photo: Moscow Times

Moscow regularly conducts military exercises and parades, as a show of strength to both its own people and its opponents.

In the past two months alone, Russia has conducted joint military exercises with China, alongside a series of mobile nuclear missile launch drills and tactical nuclear weapons deployment drills.

Russia has also stepped up military training with Belarus, conducting a series of comprehensive exercises.

Minh Duc (According to The Independent, DW)