Caspian Flotilla Day in Russia

The largest body of water on the planet with a closed contour, formed by the oceanic crust, was called the Khvalynsky Sea in Rus'. Since ancient times, it was used by the Slavs to sail to Asia in order to purchase herbs, silk, spices, rice and other goods. During the time of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, an attempt was made for the first time to create a flotilla to expand ties with Persia and protect the Volga trade route. A port for warships was founded in Astrakhan on November 15, 1722 by decree of Peter I. The king wanted to establish direct economic ties with India and the countries of Central Asia. Therefore, in July 1722 he made an attempt to conquer Derbent, which was crowned with success. The ships that left Astrakhan for the Caspian entered into a war with Persia for possession of the sea. So the strategically important region, albeit for a short time, became part of Russia. On November 15, in honor of an important historical event, the creation of a domestic naval base, Caspian Flotilla Day is celebrated. The conquests were lost after the death of Peter I - in 1735 they went to Persia under a treaty signed by Anna Ioannovna. An attempt to restore the Caspian to its former greatness was made in 1781 by Grigory Potemkin. On behalf of Catherine II, the Field Marshal supervised the creation of a navy in Astrakhan, whose vessels were used to protect merchant ships and fisheries. In 1867, the headquarters moved to Baku, and in 1881, as a result of campaigns, Turkmenistan was annexed. In October 1918, as a result of the revolution, the Caspian Flotilla became part of the Red Army. Its warships and personnel of 1,170 sailors took part in the battles of the Civil War, protecting the borders of the young country from invaders. During the Great Patriotic War, the Caspian flotilla covered the heroic defenders of Stalingrad with fire from the Volga and protected the supply of Azerbaijani oil going to the needs of the front. In August 1941, she took part in the landing on the Iranian coast, and from 1942 she organized mine-resistant naval defense. After the collapse of the USSR, the Red Banner Flotilla moved from Baku to Astrakhan, and in 2017 to Makhachkala and Kaspiysk. The relocation of headquarters and control, as well as formations of warships to Dagestan, is explained by strategic and geophysical factors. The new base opens year-round access to operationally important areas of the southern and middle parts of the Caspian Sea. Today, the flotilla bases are located in Kaspiysk, Astrakhan and Makhachkala, the villages of Nikolskoye and Labor Front. Its flagship is the Tatarstan ship. The personnel are represented by marines, paratroopers, reconnaissance officers, artillerymen, missilemen, and a separate detachment for combating underwater saboteurs. All military personnel who are on duty around the clock to protect the sea and air borders of the Motherland are congratulated on October 13 on the Day of the Caspian Flotilla.