Sylvie Claire / August 1, 2022
The Russian Fleet is capable of inflicting a lightning response to all those who decide to undermine our sovereignty and freedom, said Putin, during a naval parade in St. Petersburg (north-west), stressing that its military equipment are subject to continuous improvement.
He mentioned in particular the ultramodern Zircon hypersonic missiles which know no obstacles. Their delivery to the Russian armed forces will begin in the coming months, said Putin.
With a maximum range of about a thousand kilometers, the Zircon cruise missiles belong to a family of new weapons developed by Russia that Putin calls invincible. Their tests have been carried out since October 2020.
According to Vladimir Putin, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov will be the first Russian ship to be equipped with these missiles, while the area of deployment of this ship will be chosen according to security interests of Russia.
The Fatherland is a sacred concept for all of us, and defending it is a duty and the meaning of life for each of us, added the Kremlin's master.
Putin oversaw Sunday's naval parade in St. Petersburg that brought together more than 40 ships and submarines and about 3,500 military personnel in this former imperial capital on the occasion of Russian Fleet Day, widely celebrated throughout the country.
In Sevastopol, in the Russian-annexed Crimea, the festivities were cancelled after a drone attack on Sunday morningtargeted the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, leaving six people injured.
The attack was blamed by local authorities on Ukrainian nationalists as Russia faces a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson region, not far from Crimea.
Ukraine has denied involvement in the attack.