Russia Docks 3 Warships in Havana, Continuing Parade of Naval Ships to Cuba

Three war vessels from Russia’s Baltic Fleet arrived in Havana, Cuba, for a four-day "work…

Breitbart

Three war vessels from Russia’s Baltic Fleet arrived in Havana, Cuba, this weekend for a four-day “work visit” to the communist nation that will reportedly conclude on Tuesday.

The Russian state news agency Tass reported on Saturday that the three Russian Baltic Fleet warships — identified as the training ship Smólny, the patrol ship Neustrahimiy, and the offshore oil tanker Yelnya — will conduct an “extensive program” during its four-day port call that includes courtesy visits to officials from the Cuban Navy and other authorities of the communist Castro regime.

The Russian crew will also visit Havana and, according to the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, “places of historical and cultural interest.”

Cuban defense officials announced the latest port call this week, calling the arrival of the Russian warships a “historical practice” and show of “friendship and collaboration.” Neither government elaborated on the purpose of this latest deployment. Cuba reportedly greeted the Russian fleet with a booming cannon salute upon their arrival on Saturday.

The ongoing visit of the three vessels marks the second Russian fleet visiting the communist nation in less than two months. In June, Russia sent the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, the nuclear submarine Kazan, and two accompanying vessels to Cuba after the flotilla conducted naval exercises in the Caribbean Sea.

“The ships’ arrival aroused the keen interest of Havana residents who greeted our sailors from the city embankment,” the Russia embassy in Cuba stated. “The training ship ‘Smólny’ will be open to the general public on July 28-29.”…