Russian naval group wraps up visit to Cuba's Havana port
During their stay in Havana, the personnel of the Russian battleships participated in protocol, celebratory, and memorable events.
A group of Northern Fleet ships led by the frigate Admiral Gorshkov completed an unofficial visit to Cuba's Havana port and left to resume long-distance deployment tasks, the Russian Fleet's press office announced on Monday.
"Today a group of the Northern Fleet’s ships led by the frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov has completed its unofficial visit and left the port of Havana in the Republic of Cuba," the office stated.
After departing the Republic of Cuba's territorial seas, the Russian Northern Fleet's naval group would continue to carry out tasks as per its long-distance deployment schedule, it added.
During their stay in Havana, the personnel of the Russian battleships participated in protocol, celebratory, and memorable events, including celebrations commemorating Russia Day.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel paid a visit to the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, which was a memorable experience for Northern Fleet sailors, according to the press office.
"Today, we toured the interior of the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the deck of the Kazan submarine, ships of the Russian Navy, which are on an official visit to the port of Havana. It was an impressive and pleasant afternoon, even under persistent rain. Welcome, friends from Russia," Diaz-Canel wrote on his account on X.
Recorrimos hoy el interior de la fragata Almirante Gorshkov y la cubierta del submarino Kazán, navíos de la Armada de Rusia, que cumplen visita oficial en el puerto de #LaHabana.
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) June 16, 2024
Impresionante y agradable tarde, incluso bajo la persistente lluvia. Bienvenidos, amigos de #Rusia. pic.twitter.com/kvshSRQg8w
On Saturday, the Gorshkov frigate opened its doors to the public, allowing locals to visit as part of the naval detachment's agenda in Havana.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry had confirmed that "a naval detachment from the Russian Federation consisting of four vessels — the frigate GORSHKOV; the nuclear-powered submarine KAZAN; the PASHIN fleet sea tanker and the salvage tug NIKOLAI CHIKER — will pay an official visit to the port of Havana from June 12 to 17, 2024."
The visit comes on the grounds of historical relations between the two countries and strictly complies with international regulations, the statement indicated, affirming that "none of the vessels carries nuclear weapons. Therefore, their stop-over in our country does not represent any threat to the region."
Russia's Defense Ministry said that before entering the Havana port, the fleet "completed an exercise on the use of high-precision missile weapons."
The frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan carry modern precision-strike weaponry, including Tsirkon hypersonic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles, and Oniks anti-ship missiles.