Russian sailors usually celebrate their professional holiday on the last Sunday of July. In 2022, the celebration fell on July 31. Thus, yesterday the Russians celebrated the day of the Russian Navy.
The holiday appeared more than 80 years ago thanks to the great Soviet naval commander Nikolai Kuznetsov. In 1939, the admiral proposed to the government of those years (Sovnarkom) to establish a Navy Day, but at that time the holiday was celebrated on July 24, and the date was fixed. In such a way, Admiral Kuznetsov hoped to attract attention to the fleet and make the naval service prestigious.
There is a legend that Joseph Stalin himself allegedly chose the date of July 24. They say, in this way he decided to honor the merits of Kuznetsov, as the admiral’s birthday fell on this date. Since 1939 and for 41 years, this holiday was celebrated on July 24. And in 1980, the celebration was decided to be postponed to the last day off of the month.
Nowadays, the most massive events on Navy Day are held in the port cities of Russia, namely in St. Petersburg, Sevastopol, Kronstadt, Vladivostok, Astrakhan, Kaliningrad, Novorossiysk, Severomorsk, Baltiysk and others.
The video down below shows the fireworks on Navy Day in St. Petersburg.
One of the main traditions of the holiday is the ceremony of raising the St. Andrew’s flag. Also, on the last Sunday of July, it is customary to hold ship parades, which usually gather crowds of spectators. Then demonstrations and festive military sports competitions begin on the water and shore. In addition, demonstration of the latest weapons are usually organized.
Unfortunately, this year all events for the day of the Navy in Sevastopol were canceled for security reasons, as reported by the Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev, RIA Novosti reports. The decision was made after a drone of Ukrainian troops struck the yard of the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol, as a result of which 5 people were injured.
Nevertheless, the Naval parade in honor of the Day of the Russian Navy was held in the Syrian Tartus. As reported, this year, for the first time, warships of three fleets of the Russian Navy (the Black Sea, Pacific, and Northern) took part in the parade.
In total, 13 ships, boats and support vessels of the Russian Navy, 18 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces and naval aviation of the Russian Navy, as well as 2 missile boats, a naval minesweeper of the Syrian Navy, helicopters and fighters of the Syrian Air Force were involved in the festive events.
Ru-Main, 01.08.2022
Source: KP
