Russia to expand Navy across the globe with ballistic missiles loaded warships, submarines

SAINT PETERSBURG: Russia’s navy will deploy a total of 26 new ships thisyear including four carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, President VladimirPutin said Sunday as the country celebrated Navy Day with a show ofstrength.“In total in 2018 the navy should get 26 new warships, motor boats andvessels including four warships with Kalibr cruise missiles,” Putin said inthe northwestern city of Saint Petersburg, Interfax news agency reported.Kalibr missiles fired from Russian ships in the Mediterranean and theCaspian have been used as part of Moscow’s military intervention in theconflict in Syria in support of President Bashar Assad.The navy has already this year taken in eight new ships, Putin added.The commander of the Black Sea fleet, which is based in Crimea’s port ofSevastopol, Vice-Admiral Alexander Moiseyev said six new vessels includingmissile ships would be inducted by the end of the year, Interfax added.Putin reviewed a spectacular annual naval display on the Neva River inSaint Petersburg with 39 warships carrying out maneuvers.He told the 4,000 servicemen taking part that the navy “is making a weightycontribution to the fight with international terrorism.“Of course we will continue measures aimed at strengthening and developingthe navy, boosting equipment,” Putin said.The Navy Day celebrations also included a parade in Russia’s Syrian base ofTartus in the Mediterranean for the second time, involving five ships andthe Kolpino diesel submarine, the defense ministry said on Facebook. -APP/AFP