Today Russia will celebrate 320th anniversary of its Navy. Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu congratulated soldiers and veterans on their professional holiday and highlighted their great skills and military training, the Ministry of Defense website reported.
"Today, the personnel of Russian Navy, displaying great skills and military training, successfully resolves tasks of ensuring maritime safety of the country, actively participates in the fight against international terrorism in the Syrian Arab Republic," congratulatory letter says.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to St. Petersburg with a working visit, where he will participate in the celebration of the Navy Day, the Kremlin press service said on July 31.
"The Head of state will pass on the boat commissioned Navy warships and congratulate the crew on the Navy Day. A distinctive feature of the celebration in 2016 - participation of the new generation of ships and submarines in the parade enrolled in the Navy as a result of implementation of the State program of military shipbuilding," the press-service said, Russia Beyond the Headlines reported.
Large-scale celebration will also be held in other strongholds of the Russian Navy - Kronstadt and Sevastopol.
In Kronstadt, festive events will be opened with a prayer service in the Marine Cathedral, and then Baltic Fleet drama theater will entertain visitors in Petrovsky Park.
In Sevastopol, celebration will begin with ceremonial laying of wreaths at the Memorial to Defenders of Sevastopol, and then a parade and military-sports festival will be held.
Russian Navy Day was established in 1939. At the time, its date was fixed: mariners celebrated their professional holiday every year on July 24. Since 1980, the Navy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of July.
Today, the Russian Navy is one of the key pillars in protecting public security and sovereignty of our country. It includes Northern, Baltic, Black Sea, Pacific fleets as well as Caspian Flotilla. The structure of this branch of Armed Forces includes surface and underwater vessels, aviation, coastal defense troops, logistical units and special units.
