Putin on Navy Day

Russia's Navy Day featured participation from warships of India and China, showcasing President Putin's efforts to strengthen anti-Western alliances amid ongoing losses in Ukraine. Notably absent was Russia's Black Sea Fleet, significantly weakened by Ukrainian attacks, which have disabled about 33% of its vessels. During the parade, Putin issued a warning to the West regarding potential retaliation if the U.S. proceeds with deploying long-range missiles to Germany. This event was marred by a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil terminal in the Kursk region, aimed at disrupting Russian military supply lines. Despite the collaboration with non-Western states, experts suggest that Russia's alliances with China and India remain opportunistic and fragile. The parade, which included ships from 31 countries, underscored the Kremlin's desire to showcase its international relations amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.