The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate, INS Tabar, has arrived in St. Petersburg, Russia, to participate in the Russian Navy Day celebrations scheduled for July 28.
The state-owned news agency TASS reported that the vessel has docked at the English Embankment and will remain in port throughout the festivities.
This is not the first time INS Tabar has engaged in Russian naval events; it previously participated in the Main Naval Parade held on July 25, 2021, marking the 325th anniversary of the Russian Navy.
During that parade, the Tabar was among the fleet reviewed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting the close ties between the two naval forces.
Before arriving in St. Petersburg, INS Tabar made a port call in Hamburg, Germany, on July 17, 2024. During its three-day stay, the frigate engaged in professional exchanges with the German Navy and opened its doors to the public, strengthening maritime relations between the two nations.
Commanded by Captain M R Harish, the INS Tabar has a crew of 280 personnel. The frigate’s voyage also included stops in Egypt and Morocco as part of its deployment across Africa and Europe, reflecting its strategic operational range.
The INS Tabar is an advanced Talwar-class frigate, a series developed from the Krivak III frigates originally sold by Russia to India in 1997. Designed by the Baltic Shipyard and commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2004, the ship boasts enhanced capabilities.
With a top speed exceeding 30 knots (over 55 km/h), the INS Tabar is engineered for versatile combat operations, including engagements with surface vessels, submarines, and air targets.
While it remains uncertain whether the Tabar will participate in any joint exercises with the Russian Navy during its St. Petersburg visit, the presence of the Indian warship underscores the maritime partnership between the two nations.
Chinese, Vietnamese Navy Are In Vladivostok
The Pacific Fleet press service reported that on July 26, two ships from the Naval Forces of the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA Navy) arrived in Vladivostok for a scheduled business visit.
The landing ship Longhushan and the training ship Zheng He are set to stay in the Russian port city until July 30. The Zheng He has arrived at the main base of the Pacific Fleet, specifically at berth 33, while the larger Longhushan has been anchored at the city port to accommodate its size.
This visit follows the arrival of the Vietnamese ship Hung Dao on July 24. Rear Admiral Alexei Sysuev, commander of the Primorsky Flotilla of the Pacific Fleet, attended an official ceremony to welcome the Vietnamese vessel.
During their stay, the PLA Navy ships will engage in a range of activities with the Vietnamese and Russian navies. Planned events include joint sports activities such as football and basketball matches and rowing competitions.
According to Russian media, the foreign sailors will also have the opportunity to explore Vladivostok through city tours and visits to the Pacific Fleet Museum.
The Russian Pacific Fleet had recently participated in joint patrols with the Chinese Navy from July 12 to 15 in the Indo-Pacific region. During this period, a Russian naval detachment visited the Chinese port of Zhanjiang and participated in the opening ceremony of the Maritime Interaction 2024 exercises.
The active sea phase of these exercises, involving both Russian and PLA Navy ships, took place from July 15 to 17. As earlier reported by the EurAsian Times, the Russian and Chinese navies also conducted anti-submarine exercises in the South China Sea, a region of heightened tension.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to attend the Main Navy Day Parade in St. Petersburg on July 28. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed this in a recent briefing, noting that the parade will take place on the Neva River and in the Kronshtadt roadstead.
However, Peskov was unable to confirm whether Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who recently visited the Russian region of Karelia with Putin, would also be present at the parade, stating that it was ultimately Lukashenko’s decision.
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