Latest news with #BalticFleet
Russia Today
a day ago
- General
- Russia Today
Russian warship continues African tour (PHOTOS)
A Russian naval training ship has arrived in the Republic of the Congo as part of a regional tour, the Russian Embassy in the African country reported on Tuesday. The 'Smolny', part of Russia's Baltic Fleet, docked at the port of Pointe-Noire on Monday, where it was welcomed with military honors. The ship carries around 400 personnel, including 200 naval cadets undergoing training. According to the Russian Embassy, the crew was greeted by local officials including the Prefect of Pointe‑Noire, Commander of the First Military Region, and deputy military attaché at the Russian Embassy in Angola and regional representative in the Congo. Talks reportedly focused on expanding bilateral naval cooperation. The visit also included a musical performance with Russian officers 'warmly welcomed' by their Congolese counterparts, the embassy said. Earlier this month the 'Smolny', which is on a months-long training voyage, visited Equatorial Guinea for the second time. The ship also made an official visit to São Tomé and Príncipe on July 23, where guided tours were held for members of the Armed Forces, National Police, students, and local Russian compatriots. Visitors explored the ship's navigation systems, weaponry, and training facilities, and spoke with the crew and cadets, according to the embassy. This year's itinerary includes additional port calls in South Africa, Tanzania, and Vietnam, before the vessel returns to Vladivostok in late September. The voyage follows the 'Smolny's' 2024 port calls to several African countries, including Cameroon, Benin, the Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Namibia, and Angola. Last June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow and Brazzaville would continue close military and military-technical cooperation. In 2019, the Russian and Congolese defense ministries signed a contract to send Russian military specialists to the Congo to train and assist their counterparts in the operation, maintenance, and repair of previously supplied military equipment and special assets.
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Russia's sinking fake ships with exploding naval drones. The training likely isn't for war with Ukraine.
Russian forces have been using naval drones packed with explosives to practice attacking and sinking ships, mimicking one of the tactics that Ukraine has leaned on to fight Moscow's warships. However, the Russian training does not appear to be directed at the Ukraine war since Kyiv does not have much in the way of a traditional navy; rather, it is likely pointed at NATO and a potential confrontation with the military alliance. Russia's defense ministry released footage on Saturday of its "July Storm" naval exercises, and one of the publicized demonstrations showed forces from the Baltic Fleet use uncrewed surface vessels to destroy a fake enemy ship. The footage showed a naval drone approaching the mock target in the middle at a perpendicular angle and impacting the structure, causing a massive blast. The defense ministry said the exercise involved naval drones, aerial drones, helicopters, and ships — all of which have been involved in battles in the Black Sea. Ukraine did not have much of a navy at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022, especially after scuttling what little it had to keep the Russians from getting their hands on it. To project maritime power and fight back, Kyiv launched an asymmetric military campaign using domestically produced naval drones and missile strikes to harm Moscow's Black Sea Fleet. These operations damaged or destroyed dozens of Russian warships and forced Moscow to relocate the bulk of the Black Sea Fleet from its long-held headquarters in the occupied Crimean peninsula to the port of Novorossiysk on the other side of the region. Russia has attempted to strengthen its defenses around the Black Sea, such as by adding more combat patrol aircraft to better monitor the area, but Ukraine has adapted to this by equipping its naval drones with surface-to-air missile launchers. Russia's July Storm exercise includes a host of other training scenarios, including anti-submarine, mine-laying, and missile strike operations. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement carried by the defense ministry that "the Navy's exercise is primarily designed to thoroughly train naval forces in repelling maritime attacks and performing the full range of extremely challenging and unconventional operational and tactical missions, and other tasks in a realistic simulated environment." Putin said that "the training incorporates experience gained during the special military operation," using the Kremlin's terminology for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While the exercises might have been inspired by the Ukraine conflict, they are likely pointed at a potential clash between Russia and NATO, whose forces are increasingly training for naval drone warfare. The US Navy, for instance, has integrated new training scenarios designed to teach sailors how to survive this threat, which is appearing in more places. Naval drone warfare has not been limited to the Black Sea. In the Red Sea, for instance, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have used these weapons to strike commercial vessels in their campaign against key Middle East shipping lanes.
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Russia's sinking fake ships with exploding naval drones. The training likely isn't for war with Ukraine.
However, the Russian training does not appear to be directed at the Ukraine war since Kyiv does not have much in the way of a traditional navy; rather, it is likely pointed at NATO and a potential confrontation with the military alliance. Russia's defense ministry released footage on Saturday of its "July Storm" naval exercises, and one of the publicized demonstrations showed forces from the Baltic Fleet use uncrewed surface vessels to destroy a fake enemy ship. The footage showed a naval drone approaching the mock target in the middle at a perpendicular angle and impacting the structure, causing a massive blast. The defense ministry said the exercise involved naval drones, aerial drones, helicopters, and ships — all of which have been involved in battles in the Black Sea. Ukraine did not have much of a navy at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022, especially after scuttling what little it had to keep the Russians from getting their hands on it. To project maritime power and fight back, Kyiv launched an asymmetric military campaign using domestically produced naval drones and missile strikes to harm Moscow's Black Sea Fleet. These operations damaged or destroyed dozens of Russian warships and forced Moscow to relocate the bulk of the Black Sea Fleet from its long-held headquarters in the occupied Crimean peninsula to the port of Novorossiysk on the other side of the region. Russia has attempted to strengthen its defenses around the Black Sea, such as by adding more combat patrol aircraft to better monitor the area, but Ukraine has adapted to this by equipping its naval drones with surface-to-air missile launchers. Russia's July Storm exercise includes a host of other training scenarios, including anti-submarine, mine-laying, and missile strike operations. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement carried by the defense ministry that "the Navy's exercise is primarily designed to thoroughly train naval forces in repelling maritime attacks and performing the full range of extremely challenging and unconventional operational and tactical missions, and other tasks in a realistic simulated environment." Putin said that "the training incorporates experience gained during the special military operation," using the Kremlin's terminology for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While the exercises might have been inspired by the Ukraine conflict, they are likely pointed at a potential clash between Russia and NATO, whose forces are increasingly training for naval drone warfare. The US Navy, for instance, has integrated new training scenarios designed to teach sailors how to survive this threat, which is appearing in more places.
Russia Today
21-07-2025
- General
- Russia Today
Russian training warship arrives in African state
Russian naval training ship the Smolny has docked in Equatorial Guinea for its second official visit, the African Initiative news agency reported on Sunday. The vessel, part of Russia's Baltic Fleet, was received in the capital Malabo by senior officers of the Equatorial Guinean Navy, Russian Ambassador Karen Chalyan, and embassy staff. Unlike previous deployments, this year's voyage for the Smolny begins in Equatorial Guinea and will include stops in South Africa, Tanzania, Sao Tome and Principe, the Republic of the Congo, and Vietnam, before concluding in Vladivostok, Russia, in late September. The ship is carrying around 400 personnel, including 200 naval cadets enrolled in at-sea training. During the Malabo stopover, the cadets are expected to take part in military and cultural events, including a parade, friendly football match, and meetings with local Russians. The Baltic Fleet's training ship "Smolny" (Project 887) arrived at the port of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea ./July 20/Next:🇸🇹➡️🇨🇩➡️🇿🇦➡️🇹🇿➡️🇻🇳➡️Vladivostok➡️.. As part of the official program, the commander of the Smolny gave a tour of the vessel to Malabo's senior naval officials. The visit included an inspection of the ship's living quarters – where 15 Tanzanian cadets currently studying in Russian naval academies are also housed – as well as the command bridge and medical bay with the onboard operating room and dental clinic. This visit follows the Smolny's 2024 port tour across several African countries, including Cameroon, Benin, the Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Namibia, and Angola. In recent years, Russia has dispatched various naval assets to African ports as part of a broader push to deepen military cooperation and maritime outreach. In October, the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov docked at the port of Bizerte in Tunisia to mark the 100th anniversary of a stay in Tunisia by the Russian squadron. Last June, two Russian warships, the Slava-class guided missile cruiser Varyag and the Udaloy-class frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, arrived at the Libyan naval base in order to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two countries' fleets.
Saba Yemen
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Patrushev: Russian Baltic Fleet Ensures Maritime Security
Moscow - (Saba): Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the Russian President and Head of the Russian Maritime Authority, announced on Sunday that the Russian Baltic Fleet is strengthening its positions amid the current complex military-political situation, ensuring safe navigation and repelling provocations by the naval forces of unfriendly states. According to Sputnik, Patrushev stated on his Telegram channel on the occasion of the Baltic Fleet's founding day: "Amid the complicated military-political situation, the fleet continues to strengthen its positions, reliably ensures the safety of navigation, repels provocations from the naval forces of unfriendly states, and hones its skills through exercises in the Baltic Sea and long-distance voyages." Patrushev emphasized that the sailors of the Baltic Fleet carry out their duties with honor to protect the nation's maritime borders. He added: "The Baltic Fleet, founded by Peter the Great, is truly the cradle of the Russian Navy. Its entire history stands as a testament to heroism, courage, boldness, and loyalty to the homeland." Earlier, Patrushev noted that NATO's European wing continues its policy of attempting to blockade Russia in the Baltic region, ignoring the possibility of resuming dialogue between Moscow and Washington. He warned of a high likelihood of increased threats to Russian port infrastructure and freedom of navigation, stressing that Moscow will not allow any infringement on its national interests in the Baltic. He affirmed that strengthening Russia's military presence in the region is a guarantee of its sovereignty in this strategic direction. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
