Russian Frigate Admiral Gorshkov Completes Historic Deployment with Hypersonic Missiles.

According to information published by December 28, 2024, the Russian Navy’s multirole frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov, a Project 22350 warship equipped with hypersonic weaponry, has returned to its home port in Severomorsk after a long-range deployment.
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Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov returns after groundbreaking mission across oceans and key global ports. (Picture source: Tass)

Vice Admiral Konstantin Kabantsov, Commander of the Northern Fleet, emphasized the mission’s importance, highlighting its execution in the face of a tense global political climate. For the first time, a Northern Fleet vessel armed with hypersonic missiles, including the Kalibr and Zircon, operated in the Western Atlantic.

The frigate’s mission, which began on May 17, aimed to enhance the Russian Navy’s presence in key operational zones. Along its journey, the Admiral Gorshkov made diplomatic port calls, strengthening ties with allied nations. These included Havana, Cuba, and La Guaira in Venezuela, underscoring Russia’s relationships in the Caribbean and South America. Further stops in Oran, Algeria, and Bizerte, Tunisia, reinforced partnerships in North Africa. The frigate also transited the English Channel.

Russian Navy

In recent years, Russia has increased its naval activities to counter perceived threats from Western nations. In mid-2024, the Russian Navy conducted large-scale drills involving 300 warships, submarines, 50 aircraft, and 20,000 personnel from its Northern, Pacific, and Baltic fleets, as well as the Caspian Flotilla. These exercises were a direct response to the United States and NATO's growing naval presence near Russian waters.

Russia leverages its naval forces to strengthen ties with non-Western countries. During the 2024 Navy Day celebrations, warships from India and China participated, reflecting President Vladimir Putin's efforts to build an anti-Western alliance. Representatives from 31 countries, including Cuba, Vietnam, Egypt, and Brazil, attended the event.

Furthermore, Russia has engaged in joint naval exercises with China, signaling a deepening military partnership. In October 2021, Russian and Chinese navies conducted their first-ever joint patrol in the western Pacific, involving five warships from each nation. This collaboration indicates a shared interest in countering U.S. influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since early July 2024, Ukraine has intensified attacks on the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula using long-range Western missiles and specialized naval drones. This escalation has forced the Kremlin to redeploy its Black Sea Fleet, with many Russian warships moving from Sevastopol to other locations, including Novorossiysk and the separatist region of Abkhazia in Georgia.