On July 21 and 25, daytime bridge openings in St. Petersburg will occur to accommodate rehearsals for the Main Naval Parade on the Neva River. This year’s Navy Day highlights significant issues facing Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Ukrainian maritime drone attacks have rendered the Russian naval base in Sevastopol nearly inoperative, forcing most combat-ready ships to relocate to Novorossiysk and the Sea of Azov.
Vladimir Putin’s retreat of the Black Sea Fleet from Crimea underscores a significant strategic setback. Ukraine’s intensified attacks, including missile and drone strikes, have inflicted severe damage on Russia’s naval capabilities in Sevastopol, prompting the relocation of most combat-ready ships to Novorossiysk and other ports.
Putin’s insistence on maintaining a strong, symbolic naval presence in Crimea, despite escalating vulnerabilities, reflects a deeper issue, often referred to as “small man syndrome.”
This term, used by critics to describe leaders who compensate for perceived personal shortcomings with aggressive, often reckless policies, fits the current situation. The rapid degradation of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet due to Ukraine’s focused assaults has not only embarrassed the Kremlin but also exposed the fleet’s operational weaknesses
The ongoing “deep strike battle” in the Black Sea has forced Russia into a reactive posture, further highlighting the Kremlin’s struggles to project power effectively from its naval bases
