Night before Navy Day by Elisaveta Semasheva.
Navy day is a beloved holiday in Russia, uniting the families of sailors and marines in a celebration of their service. The last Sunday of July still remains a grand day in St. Petersburg, the city built on the Neva River. St. Petersburg has been the naval capital of Russia, since its formation in 1703. Through the Russian Empire, through the Soviet Union, this city has always been a point where one can see military ships and soldiers in white and blue uniforms.
Because of its ideal location on Neva and near the Gulf of Finland, the formerly known Leningrad is tied to the naval military in multiple untieable knots. Therefore, aside from having the biggest naval salon, it also hosts the yearly Navy Day parade on the Neva River and Kronstadt’s Reyd.
Kronstadt, Russia on Navy Day by Elisaveta Semasheva.
For this year’s Navy Day parade everything came together, as the skies cleared up for the ships and their observers, and despite the sanctions currently imposed on Russia, guests from the delegations of India, Mexico, Ecuador and a few others attended the event. Multiple vessels and countless individuals took part in the parade, specifically 20 surface ships, one submarine, four sailing vessels, and over two thousand marine personnel.
“The history of our Fatherland, St. Petersburg and the fleet are inseparable.” – Alexander Beglov, St. Petersburg’s governor in his congratulatory speech on July 28th, 2024.
St. Petersburg’s drawbridges by Elisaveta Semasheva.
The first Navy Day parade was held on the last Sunday of July in 1996, for the 300th anniversary of the formation of the Russian Navy. Traditionally, the parade is held in St. Petersburg due to its prime location, breathtaking scenery, and drawbridges which make the celebration into a beautiful show. It is always a very crowded event with blocked roads and thousands of people trying to squeeze into a spot on the embankments to see the ships. However despite all the chaos, the citizens of St. Petersburg, and those who come to visit for the parade, don’t mind being pushed around a little, if it means they can be part of this grand celebration.
“I grew up and did my service in St. Petersburg, it was still Leningrad back then, and I remember the parade has always been a huge celebration, which really made me feel remembered and appreciated for my time in the marines. It’s heartwarming to see that 40 years later people still come to watch, maybe even with more enthusiasm than I remember.” -Vladislav Sokolski, Third Rank Submarine Captain.
Vladislav Sokolski by Elisaveta Semasheva.
Needless to say, this year’s parade was a success, as people came together to celebrate traditions which remain the same, despite the difficult situation within the country. Even though Navy Day is a military-oriented holiday, everyone gets to celebrate their grandfather’s, father’s, brother’s, and their own service in the navy, even while condemning the war in Ukraine.