On October 20, 1696 the decision was made to create a standing Russian navy.

The creation of a regular military fleet in Russia was an inevitable step caused by the urgent need to overcome territorial, political and cultural isolation, which became the main obstacle to the economic and social development of the Russian state at the turn of the XVII-XVIII centuries.

In the 1690s, the active development of military shipbuilding in Russia began. Soon, ships began to be built in various regions of the country, including Voronezh, St. Petersburg, Ladoga and Arkhangelsk. During this period, the Azov and Baltic fleets were formed, and later the Pacific, Northern, Black Sea Fleets and the Caspian Flotilla appeared.

In the first half of the 18th century, Russian sailors made significant geographical discoveries. In 1740, V. Bering and A. Chirikov founded Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and in 1741 reached the western coast of North America, opening the strait. Later, remarkable Russian navigators such as F. F. Bellingshausen, V. M. Golovnin, M. P. Lazarev and E. V. Putyatin continued their labors and traveled around the world.

Images above: Graphics celebrating the anniversary of the founding fo the Russian Navy by Peter I.

In the second half of the 18th and early 19th centuries, the Russian Navy became the third largest warship in the world and actively developed the tactics of military operations at sea. This allowed the Russian sailors to win many brilliant victories.

Admirals G. A. Spiridov, F. F. Ushakov, D. N. Senyavin, G. I. Butakov, V. I. Istomin, V. A. Kornilov, P. S. Nakhimov and S. O. Makarov became unforgettable figures in the history of the Russian Navy.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet navy faced severe trials and reliably covered the flanks of the fronts, fighting the Nazis at sea, in the air and on land. Submariners, naval pilots and soldiers of the Marine Corps units have contributed to the history of the naval glory of the Fatherland. Military figures such as Admirals N. G. Kuznetsov, I. S. Isakov, A. G. Golovko, V. F. Tributs, F. S. Oktyabrsky, L. A. Vladimirsky, S. G. Gorshkov and I. S. Yumashev successfully commanded naval operations.

The modern Russian Navy possesses powerful military equipment, including missile cruisers, nuclear submarines, anti-submarine ships, amphibious assault vessels and naval aviation aircraft. This technique is effectively used by experienced marine specialists. Russian sailors continue to develop and respect the rich traditions of the Russian Navy, which has more than 300 years of history.

The birthday of the Russian Navy is now officially celebrated on October 30, and the Day of the Russian Navy is celebrated on the last Sunday of July.