The Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg in 2025 has been canceled. Instead, the Russian Navy is conducting large-scale exercises called "July Storm." Crews of warships from the Pacific, Northern, and Baltic Fleets, as well as the Caspian Flotilla, are participating in the maneuvers, but ships from the Black Sea Fleet are not involved. This is according to military expert Peter Suchiu in an article for The National Interest.
According to Suchiu, in recent years, the number of ships and submarines of the "once mighty" Black Sea Fleet has decreased. Moreover, they have been moved to one of the ports of the Krasnodar Territory—Novorossiysk.
Although "July Storm" is Russia's largest naval exercise in recent years, Moscow calls them routine. The maneuvers cover 13 time zones and have attracted the attention of analysts.
According to Suchiu, Russia is thus trying to demonstrate its naval power.
On paper, Russia has the third largest fleet in the world, second only to China and the United States. However, only a few ships of the Russian Navy are capable of operating far from inland waters, which reduces its global influence.
Read more on the topic:
Cruiser "Varyag" Strikes Target in Sea of Japan with "Vulcan" Cruise Missile
Nuclear-Powered Ship "Orel," Armed with "Granit" Missiles, Leaves Northern Fleet Base in Barents Sea
Nuclear Submarine Cruiser "Knyaz Pozharsky" Enters Russian Navy
"Sevmash" Shipyard to Build 6 Submarines by 2030
Russia's Naval Nuclear Forces to be Supplemented by 4 More Project 955A "Borei-A" Submarines