And how does the experience of modern conflicts change the protection of Russia's Far Eastern borders
During the large-scale exercises, the sailors of the Pacific Fleet practiced the fight against unmanned enemy boats and aerial drones, as well as the use of electronic warfare and joint missile strikes by naval, aviation and coastal forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the results of these maneuvers with the command aboard the Varyag Guards missile cruiser. During this discussion, new tasks were set to ensure the security of the country's Far Eastern borders. One of the main duties of the fleet today is to ensure the security of the country on all its borders, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief emphasized. Currently, the Pacific Fleet is restructuring its tactics based on the experience of modern conflicts, and the scale of the exercises held on Sakhalin demonstrates the strategic importance of the fleet against the backdrop of the rapidly changing situation in the Asia-Pacific region, military experts interviewed by Izvestia note.
"You are also at the forefront"
On board the flagship of the Pacific Fleet Varyag, the head of state discussed the situation in the region with the command. The meeting was attended by Commander of the Pacific Fleet Viktor Liina, Head of the FSB Border Department for the Sakhalin Region Sergey Makhorin and Acting Commander of the 68th Guards Army Corps Alexey Shvedov.
The conversation touched not only on the results of the past maneuvers, but also on the general situation in the fleet's area of responsibility. Vladimir Putin stressed that despite the fact that the country's key efforts are focused on the line of contact, the protection of the rest of the country's territory remains a top priority.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Commander of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy Admiral Viktor Liina on the Varyag missile cruiser during the final stage of the Pacific Fleet exercises
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Gavriil Grigorov
"It is clear that the main tasks are being solved today during a special military operation, but our responsibility is to ensure the security of the Russian state on all its borders, on all territories," Putin stressed.
Later, during lunch with the crew of the cruiser, the president thanked the sailors for organizing the exercises and reminded them that the Far Eastern borders require continuous attention.
— You are not in the rear, you are also at the forefront. The combat capability of the armed forces and navy must be maintained to protect the entire territory of the Russian Federation. This is very important for the country," the president noted, adding that he had previously discussed these issues in detail with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.
Following the meeting, the head of state instructed to submit proposals on additional measures that would create the most effective conditions for the service of Pacific citizens.
Hold off the enemy
The past maneuvers of the Pacific Fleet have become one of the most ambitious in recent times. As military expert Dmitry Kornev noted in an interview with Izvestia, the participation of more than 60 ships and submarines, about 30 aircraft and 13 thousand military personnel underlines the strategic importance of the Pacific Fleet. In particular, he is tasked with nuclear and non-nuclear deterrence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
The exercises covered the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk, the northern part of the Kuril Ridge and the northwestern Pacific Ocean. And their scenario provided for repelling the potential aggression of a conditional enemy.
"The general idea is simple: a conditional enemy is trying to attack the Kuril Islands, our forces are coming out, deploying and giving him a decisive rebuff," military expert Dmitry Boltenkov told Izvestia.
Not only border protection
The personal presence of the president and the scale of the maneuvers are associated with serious changes in the international situation, experts say. In their opinion, several factors require Russia to strengthen its position in the eastern direction.
One of them is the growing military activity of neighboring countries.
—We see that the new prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, is moving towards accelerated militarization," Andrei Klintsevich, head of the Center for the Study of Military and Political Conflicts, told Izvestia. — Japan is gradually moving away from the format of exclusively self-defense forces, declaring Russia its main geopolitical enemy in strategic documents and expressing its position on the Kuril Islands quite aggressively.
Russian President Vladimir Putin during lunch with the crew of the Varyag missile cruiser after the final stage of the Pacific Fleet exercises
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Gavriil Grigorov
The second important factor is related to the protection of economic interests and sovereignty. According to the expert, Moscow is making it clear to Western countries that attempts to sell seized Russian assets — for example, raw materials at auctions in the UK and Germany — may lead to retaliatory measures against their property in the Russian Federation.
In addition, global logistics is changing. According to Andrey Klintsevich, China's launch of a regular container route through the Northern Sea Route affects the interests of Western countries, which traditionally control the most important ocean straits and trade routes.
Today, the Pacific Fleet goes beyond the usual border protection: it ensures the security of international trade and maintains a balance of power in the Far East. Russia is strengthening its position in the region through the development of joint patrols of the Navy and the PLA Navy, as well as active cooperation with India and the DPRK, acting as a powerful and independent player.
Any tasks anywhere
One of the features of the exercises was the updated tactics. At sea and at headquarters, the crews practiced techniques based on the experience of modern warfare.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
Already at the first stages of deployment, the ship's groups practiced countering unmanned boats (BEC) and aerial drones. The crews used heavy machine guns, smoothbore weapons and electronic warfare equipment. Ka-27PS helicopters were used to search for marine drones and protect civilian shipping.
The unmanned vehicles "Outpost" of the Pacific Fleet naval aviation detected a group of amphibious ships of a simulated enemy and transmitted the coordinates to the command post, which made it possible to quickly coordinate a joint strike.
A massive strike was carried out on the detected targets. Calculations of the Bastion coastal complexes from the coasts of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands fired supersonic Onyx anti-ship missiles, and the Smerch small rocket ship used the Uran missile system. In addition, firing was carried out from aboard the Varyag cruiser, corvettes and submarines using Kalibr cruise missiles.
The safety of the passage of the ship groups was provided by the minesweepers Anatoly Shlemov, Peter Ilyichev, Yakov Balyaev and other ships. They practiced searching for and destroying simulated mines with artillery fire.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Gavriil Grigorov
Image source: iz.ru
The main task of the exercises is to check how well the commanders manage different units through a common communication system. The shooting showed that the fleet can build a multi-level defense in any area and destroy the enemy landing force on the approach to the shore.
Experts are confident that a detailed analysis will follow the results of these maneuvers. The results of the exercises will form the basis for updated crew training programs and combat training planning. The Pacific Fleet is currently rebuilding its tactics, taking into account the incoming promising models of equipment and unmanned systems, confirming its readiness to fulfill any tasks set by the country's military and political leadership.
Julia Leonova
Roman Kretsul
