Madrid/The Russian fleet that arrives this Wednesday in Cuba was sighted by passengers of a vacation cruise in Florida waters this Tuesday. “I was surprised how close it was, since we are not far from the coast (of the United States),” one of them, Michael Griffit, told CNN, which released photographs of the ships taken by a tourist.
The witness indicated that he was able to observe six ships moving in the direction of the Island: among them were two Russian ships, the oil tanker Pashin and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker, followed closely by several American warships. As Navy sources confirmed to the newspaper Miami Heraldthese are three destroyers –USS Truxtun, USS Donald Cook and USS Delbert D. Black– and a coast guard boat –stone–, in addition to a Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.
On the other hand, the frigate does not appear Gorshkov and the nuclear powered submarine Kazan, –those that worry the United States, who will also arrive in Havana this Wednesday, June 12.
The frigate Gorshkov and the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan do not appear – those that worry the United States, which will also arrive in Havana this Wednesday, June 12
The deployment, which in Washington downplays its importance in public statements although it does not lower its guard, refers to the Cold War, which is why it has attracted attention around the world. “In accordance with standard procedures, we have been actively monitoring Russian ships as they transit the Atlantic Ocean within international waters,” the Navy told the outlet.
“Air and sea assets under the United States Northern Command have conducted operations to ensure the defense of the United States and Canada. “Russia’s deployments are part of routine naval activity that does not pose a direct threat or concern to the United States,” she added, downplaying the situation.
Experts, according to the Moscow-friendly press, believe that the presence of the Kazan aims to showcase the strength and capabilities of the Russian fleet, a statement that coincides with the statements of a US official. “This is about Russia demonstrating that it is still capable of achieving a certain level of global power projection,” he said last week. week. Furthermore, specialists warn of the Putin Government’s intention to “give back” to the US, approaching its borders as closely as NATO troops are to its own and responding to the warning from some countries – such as France and United Kingdom – to send troops to Ukraine.
He Kazan –belonging to the Yasen class– is considered the stealthiest nuclear submarine in the Russian fleet, which is a cause of concern for the United States. Commissioned in 2021, the ship is 120 meters long and dives up to 600 meters deep. She moves at speeds of between 15 and 30 knots (28-55 km/h) thanks to her long-range nuclear propulsion engine and has a crew of approximately 85 people on board. She can fire 3M-54 Kalibr and P-800 Oniks cruise missiles.
The ‘Kazan’ is considered the stealthiest nuclear submarine in the Russian fleet, which is a cause of concern for the United States
As for the Gorshkov, is armed with Zircon hypersonic missiles, designed for Russian cruisers, frigates and submarines and which could be used against maritime and land targets. Russian President Vladimir Putin has touted Zircon as a powerful weapon, capable of penetrating any existing missile defense by flying nine times faster than the speed of sound at a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said this Tuesday that it has carried out “training” to repel an air attack, testing the “interaction” between the command and combat posts during firing with “the AK-192M naval artillery installations and the of Broadsword anti-aircraft artillery against simulated aerial targets.
Moscow indicated early Wednesday that the frigate and submarine “conducted missile exercises in the Atlantic Ocean while en route to Cuba.” Those activities included the firing of high-precision missiles at simulated enemy targets from a distance of more than 600 kilometers (370 miles) by the Kazan, while the Gorshkov trained to repel an air attack, the Ministry reported.
The Russian sailors “will carry out a program of activities, which includes courtesy meetings with the head of the Revolutionary War Navy and the governor of Havana”
According to Prensa Latina, the Russian sailors “will carry out a program of activities, which includes courtesy meetings with the head of the Revolutionary War Navy and the governor of Havana,” in addition to touring “places of historical and cultural interest.”
Upon arrival in Havana, 21 salvos will be fired from one of the ships, “as a greeting to the Cuban nation,” which will be answered by “an artillery battery from the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress.”
The visit, which will last until the 17th, “corresponds to the historical friendly relations between Cuba and Russia” and complies with international regulations, states the Ministry of the Armed Forces. In addition, remember that between the 14th and the 19th, the Royal Canadian Navy patrol ship, HMCS Margaret Brooke, and the Venezuelan training ship also visit the Island. AB Simón Bolívar, that will stop in Santiago de Cuba.
