Vladimir Putin’s annual Navy Day parade looks impressive from the banks of St Petersburg’s Neva River; it looks even better on state television.
No expense is spared when it comes to showing people from Russia how great and brilliant their navy and armed forces are.
However, think back to April and the loss of the Moskva, the flagship warship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
A direct hit of Ukraine said the defense ministry; a fire on board according to Russia.
A significant blow to both Russia’s prestige and its Black Sea capabilities. Nor is it the only loss for the Black Sea fleet, faced with a Ukrainian navy massively reduced since the annexation of Crimea and largely barricaded inside its ports, as is its merchant shipping.
Blocking the Black Sea has been a major strategic victory for Russia, forcing Ukraine to blow itself up.
The standstill at Ukraine’s ports has left large areas of the world without grain, most importantly, but also with fertilizers, sunflower oil and a host of other exports that would have brought much-needed cash to the Ukrainian economy.
Despite the grain agreement reached in Istanbul, no ships have yet left. It is an indication of the deep lack of faith in Russia’s intentions, especially after its missile attack on the port of Odesa with the ink on the deal barely dry.
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The Russian corvette Aleksin fires missiles during the parade
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Warships seen during the celebration in Novorossiysk. Image: AP
Today Putin promised more large-caliber weapons.
The highly touted Zirkon hypersonic missile will be delivered to Russia’s armed forces in the coming months.
The frigate Admiral Gorshkov which has already fired the missile will be its first recipient. According to Putin, the Zirkon missile systems “will have no equal in the world.”
The crowd along Palace Embankment may not have taken this particularly well, but they loved the parade and aerial flyover.
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Putin promises hypersonic missiles
“Did you hear people cheering when Putin came out?” Janna said, her dislike of all things British palpable. “I hope you heard, I don’t think you have such a strong leader.”
“I think you have pitted us against each other, two sister towns,” she said, pointing her finger menacingly. “I hope you can understand what the Russian spirit is when you are here.”
Natália in a V-shirt, an increasingly common commodity, told me she was confident of victory. When I asked him what he meant by victory, he said “Victory over fascism, over the Nazis, for peace!”.
“What does the word ‘Nazi’ mean to you?” I ask him.
“People who are only for their own nation, and do not accept others,” is the answer.
This is a broad definition. No wonder it has captured the imagination of so many in Russia. It is a world away from the notion of death camps and the horrific atrocities of Nazi Germany.
But not everyone is so sure of their president.
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“Denazification was fair for Hitler, but there is no Nazism in Ukraine,” says Oleg.
“This war is Putin’s latest attack on the world. The personal attack of a mad dictator against the entire world because the entire civilized world is now against this outrage that is going on.”
A lone voice in today’s crowd. Perhaps also, in today’s Russia.
But there may be many more like Oleg who do not attend events like these, but who feel deeply uncomfortable with the events of the past five months, their reservations overwhelmed by the powerful force of patriotism that Vladimir Putin raises so well.