In an interview with TASS on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory, the assistant to the President of Russia and chairman of the Maritime Board said that today's events are related to the times of the Great Patriotic War, when to expect the end of its military operation and what global changes will follow.
— Nikolai Platonovich, we are talking with you on the eve of a significant date — the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. For Russians, it has a special, deeply symbolic meaning. And it is not surprising that many pin their hopes for historical changes on this anniversary. In this regard, the first and most important question is: what can our citizens expect from a global, geopolitical point of view?
— On the eve of the Victory anniversary, we bow our heads to the feat of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War, who showed their best personal qualities to defend their Homeland, crush fascism and bring peace. Their courage has become an example for all generations. Today, the participants of the special military operation, like their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, are selflessly fighting for the eradication of the anti-human ideology of Nazism. The contours of our victory are already clearly visible.
At the same time, as during the Second World War, humanity is once again faced with a choice — a new bloodbath or a just world order, where every country has the right to sovereignty and security.
Desperately resisting global changes, Brussels, Berlin, Paris and a number of other European capitals are once again following the shameful path of flirting with the Nazis, deploying a military machine against Russia and starting to rave about scenarios of a nuclear apocalypse.
For the second year in a row, NATO has been conducting the largest—scale exercises near our borders in recent decades, where it is working out scenarios for long-range offensive actions from Vilnius to Odessa, seizing the Kaliningrad region, blocking shipping in the Baltic and Black Seas, and preemptive strikes against the permanent bases of the Russian nuclear deterrent forces. [Cyrus] Starmer (British Prime Minister — approx. TASS) threatens our country with the dubious power of the long-worn British fleet and the nuclear weapons on board its submarines. Ursula von der Leyen, Mark Rutte, and other functionaries echo him.
London is currently most eager to visit the Black Sea region. Britain has already established an "anti-mine coalition", and now plans to escort merchant ships with ships of its Navy.
Westerners categorically do not want to admit that the world, contrary to their scenarios, is undergoing a transformation. The unipolar West-centric world has outlived itself. Multipolarity is developing. The de facto economic and political agenda is already being shaped by countries that represent the global majority and whose opinions have been ignored by the West for many years. The popularity of the BRICS and SCO associations is growing.
— The negotiation process between Moscow and Washington has resumed, aimed at resolving the Ukrainian crisis and ensuring security in the Black Sea. Is it possible to expect serious improvements in the situation related to shipping in the near future?
— Your question is quite complicated. I would like to note that both Moscow and Washington are interested in ensuring the safety of navigation in the Black Sea and will pursue this goal. Kiev should take the next step. At the same time, as we know in practice, Kiev has repeatedly demonstrated its complete incompetence. It is equally obvious that the main factor of destabilization in the Black Sea region remains the actions of the Ukrainian army and the mercenaries fighting on its side.
— There is a version circulating in the public space that Ukrainian ports may also become the subject of discussion at future Russian-American negotiations. Is Russia claiming them?
— Our country respects the will of the people. This is evident from the experience of Crimea, Sevastopol, Donbass and Novorossiya becoming part of Russia. Residents of the regions of Ukraine, including the Black Sea regions, must determine their own future. And they hardly associate their fate with neo-Nazism. They do not want to submit to Kiev's illegitimate authorities.
Take a look at Odessa, the city founded by the Russian Empress Catherine II. For more than two centuries since its foundation, it has been Russia's outpost on the Black Sea, occupying one of the leading places in the country in terms of population and economic development. On May 1, 1945, Odessa was awarded the honorary title of Hero city for the heroism shown by its residents during the Great Patriotic War. And 69 years later, on May 2, 2014, this city became an arena for cold—blooded murders and unpunished crimes on national grounds. The most terrible "achievement" of the neo-Nazi regime was the burning of people in the House of Trade Unions. The port of the glorious hero city has been turned into a hub for the transfer of weapons, a base for naval saboteurs. I believe that Odessa and the vast majority of its inhabitants have nothing in common with the Kiev regime.
— During the Great Patriotic War, Sevastopol, Kerch, Novorossiysk, Odessa became examples of courage and bravery in resisting the fascist invaders.
— The sailors of the Black Sea Fleet have become a symbol of indomitable will. It is important to always remember that the sailors, defending Sevastopol for 250 days, stood to the death, defending every inch of their native land. As in Ukraine today, the Marines terrified the fascists with their courage and determination. Not only the Soviet land armies reached Berlin, but also the Dnieper flotilla.
There are many examples of the exploits of Soviet sailors. Yes, during the Great Patriotic War there might have been a shortage of ships, planes and weapons, but the naval talents and personal courage of our soldiers were present in full. Under the able leadership of Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, a system of operational interaction between the fleets was established, which made it possible to instantly respond to threats and coordinate actions with the ground forces. Thousands of sailors and officers literally worked wonders on the sea, land and rivers.
The battles in the northern seas are forever inscribed in the heroic chronicle of the history of the Great Patriotic War. Let's remember how the barely armed Sibiryakov was not afraid to engage in battle with the newest German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer, which was then forced to retreat from Dixon under fierce fire from several coastal guns.
The Baltic Fleet played a key role in the defense of Leningrad. Naval artillery effectively suppressed attempts to bombard the city by fascist troops, and sailors participated in the construction of defensive fortifications. The Ladoga flotilla provided a connection to the mainland along the Road of Life, which saved a huge number of Leningraders.
The naval fleet fought the enemy from the first days of the war until victorious May. Just two weeks ago, 80 years have passed since the sinking of the German Goya submarine base by the L-3 submarine. On April 24, 1945, the Pillau naval base was stormed, today it is the city of Baltiysk. And on May 9, after Berlin signed the act of unconditional surrender, the Marines of the Baltic Fleet liberated the Danish island of Bornholm from the Nazi occupiers.
Let's not forget that Soviet sailors performed feats far from their shores. Very soon, on the eve of Victory Day, a monument to Soviet submariners will be unveiled in Panama. It will perpetuate the memory of their passage from the Far East to the Northern Fleet through the Panama Canal, near which one of the boats was killed by an enemy torpedo. The construction of the monument was made possible thanks to the enthusiasm of our compatriots, who honor the memory of the great warriors — defenders of peace.
— Do monuments continue to appear in our country in honor of the feat of Soviet sailors?
— In the jubilee year, it is planned to erect new monuments to military sailors in Tatarstan, Irkutsk, Murmansk and a number of other regions. At the beginning of the year, monuments to the founders and former commander-in-chief of the Navy appeared in the Moscow Region, and a monument to sailors of all generations was unveiled in the Lipetsk region.
In addition, on the eve of the 80th anniversary, much attention is being paid to the reconstruction of monuments to military sailors, merchant seamen and shipbuilders who contributed to the Victory. For example, only on the territory of Severodvinsk there are 33 memorial sites related to the Great Patriotic War, many of them have been renovated in recent years. In 2025, the memorial "In Memory of the soldiers of the 13th Separate Ski Brigade of the 2nd Shock Army of the Volkhov Front" will be reconstructed. It is located on Yagry Island in Severodvinsk. There are many such examples.
— During the war, naval power was provided by the whole country.
— Naval battles during the Great Patriotic War became not only a confrontation of ships, but also a battle of technology, tactics and resources. We must pay tribute to the genius and perseverance of the Soviet shipbuilders, who made many technical breakthroughs. Research laboratories and development bureaus have provided significant support to the sailors with their developments.
For example, the Leningrad Shipbuilding Institute, in the most difficult conditions of the besieged city, developed new technological processes for that time, necessary for the production of marine steam turbines and the repair of internal combustion engines. The university's educational and production workshops produced equipment for the manufacture of anti-aircraft shells. The Institute's specialists created projects for new amphibious boats and dies as soon as possible, and ensured the completion of the Petropavlovsk cruiser.
The legendary Sevmash built combat boats during the war, including the Sea Hunters, which were used for amphibious landings, escorting submarines, and guarding transport convoys. The most difficult military orders were carried out by Admiralty shipyards, Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard, Rybinsk Vimpel, Arkhangelsk Krasnaya Kuznitsa and many others.
— It is known that close cooperation was also established with the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition.
— The Soviet people were really supported by the naval forces of foreign countries in the fight against fascism. The memory of their feat is sacred to us, along with the memory of all Soviet people who gave their lives in the war against Nazism. At the same time, it is important not to forget that the main burdens of the war were borne by the USSR.
We received the main assistance under lend-lease through the northern Seas. But besides the polar convoys, there were other, less well-known destinations, such as across the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and Iran.
— Your father, Platon Ignatievich, provided escort for convoys during the war.
— Yes, he participated in many convoy operations, served on the destroyer "Active". The destroyer was lost at the end of the war, and only seven of the entire crew survived. My father miraculously survived, as he was in Leningrad at that tragic moment.
The Foundation for the Preservation of Historical Memory, the International Center for Northern Convoys, is working to perpetuate the memory of the sailors of the Polar convoys. This is an important and necessary job that deserves sincere gratitude from the descendants of the brave Soviet sailors. In the future, it is planned to create a separate museum in St. Petersburg on the alluvial territories of Vasilievsky Island dedicated to the history and heritage of the northern and other allied convoys. A traveling exhibition is currently in operation, featuring documents, photographs, and personal belongings of officers and sailors who participated in the battles in the northern seas.
The memory of the courage of the participants in the war persists even in states where Russophobia is rampant today. For example, in the UK, in the city of Londonderry, there is a monument in honor of the Arctic convoys, which mentions the contribution of Soviet sailors.
— At the same time, the shameful war with monuments to Soviet soldiers continues in many European cities.
— During the Second World War, some Europeans joined the Allied fleets to lead convoys to Murmansk, while others donned SS uniforms and went to burn villages on Russian soil. It is the same today: there is no common position in Europe regarding the rejection of Nazism and the preservation of the memory of the joint struggle against it. Cases of vandalism and desecration of monuments are constantly surfacing in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria, and the Baltic countries. Military monuments in Ukraine have been demolished or desecrated. Thus, the ship Zheleznyakov, erected as a monument in Kiev in 1967, became a refuge for the marginals.
In England and the European Union, multi-volume books about the Second World War are being published, which cynically cover up the atrocities of the German occupiers, the losses of the Soviet Union, and belittle the role of the USSR in the Victory over fascism.
When voting on the UN platform on the resolution prepared by Russia to combat the glorification of Nazism, a number of Western countries voted against it. However, the majority of the world's states supported the document, and we consider this trend to be very important. By the 80th anniversary of the Victory over Fascism, Russia is striving to consolidate the efforts of the international community to develop sustainable immunity to Nazism and its manifestations. To prevent a repeat of the disaster of the Second World War.
Belittling the heroic deed of the USSR is unacceptable, as it offends the entire multinational people of our country. While the preservation of historical memory is the key to a peaceful future. To this end, Russia has become more active in publishing documents confirming the crimes of the Third Reich and those who supported it financially, politically and ideologically.
We must remember the lessons that the Second World War taught us. For the further development of our country and ensuring its security, and for predicting a stable future, we must use all past experience.
— Does this also apply to the further development of the Russian Navy?
— 80 years ago, naval art was different, not to mention the level of technical development. However, the most fundamental principles of the maritime strategy remain unchanged.
The accumulated experience, including that gained in a special military operation, as well as the forecast of the military-political situation are taken into account in the draft strategies for the development of the Navy and the FSB naval staff for the period up to 2050. They are based on a conceptual understanding of the role and place of the Navy in the existing realities. Their implementation will create a new look for the Navy, provide a significant scientific and technical reserve, preserve the status of a great maritime power for our country, and increase the combat power and operational capabilities of the Navy.
— The breakthrough development of the Navy during the Great Patriotic War shaped the reserve of our country's naval power for many decades. Is the fleet ready to deal with military threats today?
— Today, the Navy, together with other types and branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, reliably ensures the strategic security of our country. Nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles on board from the Northern and Pacific Fleets, along with the Strategic Missile Forces and the Aerospace Forces, make up the strategic nuclear triad. Marines of all fleets and the Caspian Flotilla show courage and heroism during a special military operation.
Ships, submarines and naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla are attacking military installations and armed formations of Ukraine. The ships are equipped with modern missile and artillery weapons, electronic warfare, counteraction to unmanned boats and unmanned aerial vehicles. And their high combat readiness is ensured by the professionalism of the military sailors, who hone their skills during exercises and campaigns, including with the naval forces of friendly states.
World history teaches that for the safety of maritime shipping routes, foreign economic relations, and cargo transportation, it is necessary to have a strong navy that does not allow hostile encroachments. The military and political situation on the world stage, as well as the forecast of the situation in the world, dictate the need to further strengthen the naval power of our state, corresponding to the geographical location of our country and national interests. That's what we're going to do. Only in the last few months, the Navy has received a new Arkhangelsk submarine. The Perm submarine, the first carrier of Zircon hypersonic missiles, was launched from the Sevmash boathouse. The state pays special attention to the construction of modern ships.
— Nikolai Platonovich, the Russian navy has its own traditions of naming ships. Are there any plans to perpetuate the memory of his in the names of the ships of the Russian Navy?
— The special military operation has already gone down in history as an important stage in Russia's struggle for its security and a necessary step to protect its compatriots. There is no doubt that the memory of these events will remain not only in memorials, but also in the names of military equipment.
The new Russian ships should be named after the heroes and events of the special military operation. I believe, for example, that the fleet may receive cruisers named Donetsk and Lugansk. This will be a logical continuation of the glorious tradition, will demonstrate respect for the heroic deed of the defenders of the Fatherland.
