Patrushev on the protection of navigation and maritime borders of the Russian Federation

On the eve of the Day of the Defender of the Fatherland, he spoke in an exclusive interview with aif.ru about measures to protect navigation and maritime borders of the country, the strengthening of the Navy and about whether young people are interested in the work in shipbuilding and service at sea.

In the main maritime directions, including in the regions remote from Russia, there should be an impressive force on a permanent basis, ready to cool the ardor of Western corsairs.

– Nikolay Patrushev

“Cooling the ardor of Western Corsairs”

Vitaly Tseplyaev, aif.ru: Nikolai Platonovich, the situation in the world ocean has escalated so much that some experts say about the “opening of another front of the confrontation with the Russian Federation by the collective West.” What are only the seizures of ships under our flag and with our cargo. What are your predictions, what will Russia respond to this?

Nikolai Patrushev: Pirate, in fact, attacks on Russian maritime trade suggest that Western opponents have decided to strike a blow to one of the most important areas of the Russian economy – foreign trade, want to paralyze it. According to reports, such actions will be intensified, attacks on our ships and cargo will increase. If we do not give them a tough rebuff, then soon the British, the French and even the Baltics will be brazen to such an extent that they will try to tightly block our country access to the seas at least in the Atlantic basin. Of course, the response to Western attacks is developed, including through the Maritime Board. We believe that, as at all times, the best guarantor of the safety of navigation is the navy. In the main maritime directions, including in the regions remote from Russia, there should be an impressive force on a permanent basis, ready to cool the ardor of Western corsairs.

– Are we enough strength?

– I will not hide it, now our Navy performs tasks to protect maritime trade with a sufficiently high force voltage. Ships of the far sea and ocean zones, capable of a long-term autonomous operation at a considerable distance from their bases, requires much more. The current situation shows that of all branches of the armed forces, the fleet is the most powerful and at the same time flexible geopolitical tool suitable for active use both in peacetime and in times of armed conflict. The presence of a fleet, the ability to protect our economic activities at sea, to export our oil, grain, fertilizers are a condition for the normal life of the state. In this regard, we are laying the relevant requirements for the development of the Navy in the updated program of shipbuilding of the Navy until 2050, which is now being finalized and will soon be presented to the president, who has already approved the new Strategy for the Development of the Navy and the FSB shipbuilding program.

Russia needs a balanced fleet capable of solving all pressing tasks and meeting the requirements of the time, primarily technological.

– Nikolay Patrushev

– What fleet of Russia needs – large for solving global problems or compact for coastal defense?

Russia needs a balanced fleet capable of solving all pressing tasks and meeting the requirements of the time, first of all, technological. We live in an era when naval affairs are changing dramatically. Most recently, the fleet included unmanned boats, but in the near future, the world’s leading fleets will be enclosed en masseless ships of at least the corvette class. Dozens of new technologies will be introduced that will completely change the face of the war at sea. In this situation, we need to bet on the creation of a high-tech fleet. That is why one of the priorities that we put in these documents is technological leadership.

“We can also be interested in what they are transporting and where”

You mentioned the blockade scenario. Recently, the chief of the French General staff, Mandon, said that now the Baltic, they say, is completely in the hands of NATO, and it can be blocked for Russia at any time. How do we answer?

– In the Baltic, of course, the situation is not easy. NATO is actually creating a multinational group focused on offensive actions. Finns, for example, acquire corvettes with strike weapons, which is quite enough to the north-western regions of our country. Among other things, NATO plans imply the blocking of the Kaliningrad region, the seizure of merchant ships, sabotage on underwater communications, in which then they will be blamed on us cynically.

If this situation cannot be resolved peacefully, the blockade will break through and eliminate the Navy.

– Nikolay Patrushev

Any attempts to blockade our country are absolutely illegal, from the point of view of international law, and the concept of the “shadow fleet” that EU representatives wander at every corner is a legal fiction. Nevertheless, as a first step, we will involve universally recognized political, diplomatic and legal mechanisms. But let’s be honest – there is almost no hope that the West has retained at least a small amount of respect for diplomacy and law.

If diplomacy and law don’t work, then what?

“In fact, the Europeans, implementing the plans of the naval blockade, deliberately carry out a scenario of military escalation, find the boundaries of our patience and provoke active retaliatory measures. If this situation cannot be resolved peacefully, the blockade will break through and eliminate the Navy. Let us not forget that there are many ships under European flags by sea. We may also be wondering what they are transporting and where.

– It turns out that the world’s oceans, as a few centuries ago, again becomes a battleground, not cooperation?

“Facts suggest that the sea is again becoming a springboard for military aggression. The old practice of “gun gunboat diplomacy” is returning, as evidenced by events in Venezuela or around Iran. But do not judge by the actions of Western countries alone. The West dominated the seas for a long time, until the beginning of this century, but now its hegemony largely remained in the past.

Currently, the key task is to build a multipolar world order in the World Ocean, and Russia is actively working on it with its like-minded people. Through the Maritime Board, we regularly conduct negotiations with foreign partners. I note that Russian proposals in the field of naval cooperation, trade, development of port infrastructure, shipbuilding, marine science, technology and education are perceived more than positively. We will use the potential of BRICS, which is time to give a full-fledged strategic sea dimension. In January, the first BRICS naval exercises “Will to Peace – 2026” successfully passed in the South Atlantic with the participation of Russia, China, Iran, the UAE and South Africa. The fleets have worked out cooperation to protect trade routes, which are now becoming more vulnerable, including in the face of Western piracy. The exercises of the “Sea Safety Belt – 2026” in the Strait of Hormuz, where Russia, China and Iran sent their ships were relevant.

Together with the tools of financial incentives, it is time to revive the spirit of romance among new generations of navigators, to cultivate from a young age, responsibility to the Motherland of future sailors.

– Nikolay Patrushev

“Energistic guys, masters of maritime business”

– Returning to the construction of warships and shipbuilding in general. You have repeatedly talked about the need to train qualified personnel. Are there any successes here?

“Our priority is to make shipbuilding and related industries a sphere that is attractive to specialists both financially and in career, professional and even household terms. Yes, while we see a significant shortage of specialists with secondary vocational and higher education, but at the same time, the number of applicants to maritime technical universities and colleges is growing. The personnel of the industry is getting younger. Factories are gradually being transformed, in many workshops it is already pleasant to go, people go there willingly, their work is appreciated. If we want to remain a great maritime power, the profession of a ship must be surrounded by honor and respect, not to mention the material side of the matter.

Are young people willing to go into the industry?

– Even 2-3 years ago, young specialists in shipbuilding were, rather, an exception, and not only because of working conditions, but also because of stereotypes. It was believed that the courts should build older people, with experience. One leader laughed that young people, they say, do not even know how to use a disk phone. In fact, our young professionals are literate, energetic, well-prepared in advanced areas, such as digitalization, artificial intelligence, demonstrate an extraordinary and innovative approach to the matter. We recently opened the Moscow shipyard. Its original design and design of produced electric vessels belong to architects and designers whose average age barely exceeds 30 years. I think this is the best illustration of the industry rejuvenation.

Is it the same trend among seafarers?

Both the Navy and the civilian fleet are replenished with promising and purposeful specialists. In January, I visited the frigate of the Pacific Fleet Marshal Shaposhnikov. The sailors invited them to visit them, inspect the ship. I talked with the officers in the cabin company and noted with pleasure that most of them are energetic guys, masters of maritime affairs, who also ask smart, sharp questions, think serious, strategic categories.

Young people are also willing to go to the civilian fleet. In many respects, this is the merit of domestic maritime education, which is being rebuilt in accordance with the requirements of the time. The training of future sailors and shipbuilders has become a truly exciting activity. Training is on modern simulators, which have no analogues in the world. Production laboratories are opened, where students can undergo industrial practice and implement their own research projects. I can see this when I visit the famous “Stoelph”, “Makarovka” and other universities.

– There were times when young people went to sea primarily for romance …

– Of course, and that is why, together with the tools of financial incentives, it is time to revive the spirit of romance among new generations of navigators, to educate from young years, to cultivate responsibility to the Motherland of future sailors, to teach young shipbuilders to receive joy from their success. It is necessary to increase the prestige of marine professions among young people, to popularize the history of Russian maritime affairs, shipbuilding.

By the way, this year will mark the centenary of Igor Dmitrievich Spassky – a great and talented scientist, engineer, general designer of more than two hundred domestic submarines. His devotion to the Fatherland, loyalty to the Navy is an example for the modern generation of sailors and designers.

2026 is rich in other anniversary and memorable dates in the maritime sphere. In March, the Russian Navy will celebrate the 120th anniversary of the creation of the submarine fleet. And, of course, the coming year is the year of the 330 anniversary of the Russian fleet, the creation of which Russia owes our first emperor. Peter I, among others, said, “Hope for peace, one should not weaken in military affairs.” This phrase with a special meaning I want to quote on the eve of the Defender of the Fatherland Day and express my gratitude to those who today bring the Victory closer to those who perform combat missions in the army and navy, and also work at the enterprises of the military-industrial complex. I sincerely wish you and your families health, happiness, peace and well-being.