Over 150 Russian ships and 15,000 troops begin massive naval drills across seas and oceans
Photo: Russia will deploy 150 military ships to sea (RossSMi)
Russia has launched large-scale naval exercises involving more than 150 ships and 15,000 servicemen. The exercises will take place in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as in the Baltic and Caspian Seas, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The ministry's statement says that the so-called July Storm exercises, which will last from July 23 to 27, will test the fleet's readiness to carry out non-standard operations, use long-range weapons, and other advanced technologies, including unmanned systems.
"At sea, the ship crews will practice deployment to combat zones, anti-submarine defense, defense of base areas and economic activities," the ministry reported.
Issues will also be worked out concerning "repelling attacks by enemy air attack means, unmanned boats and unmanned aerial vehicles, ensuring maritime navigation safety, delivering strikes on enemy targets and naval groupings."
More than 120 aircraft and 10 coastal missile systems will participate in the exercises, the ministry reported. The exercises will be commanded by Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev.
Russian Navy
According to most public rankings, Russia has the third most powerful navy in the world after China and the United States. At the same time, the only Russian aircraft carrier, cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, has been under repair since 2018 and is expected to be scrapped.
The Russian fleet has suffered a series of high-profile losses in the Black Sea. In particular, Ukraine sank the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the cruiser "Moskva," as well as about a quarter of the ships.
The Black Sea Fleet was forced to flee from occupied Sevastopol to the east—to Novorossiysk and further into occupied Abkhazia.
According to British intelligence, Russia’s naval capabilities in the Black Sea are significantly limited due to highly effective Ukrainian operations. However, the ships are capable of delivering long-range missile strikes.
