These ships of the Russian Navy, together with some elements from the Italian Navy, are engaged in joint anti-terrorist naval exercises bearing the name IONT X 2004. These exercises are being held under the direction of Black Sea Fleet Commander Admiral V. Masorin and the Commander of the Italian Forces Andrea Toscano.
On completion of the exercises, some of the Russian naval vessels will be paying a friendly visit to the Grand Harbour from 21 to 24 September. This visit will be taking place as part of the Russian-Maltese bilateral relations. The programme of the visit will include courtesy visits to the President of Malta and the Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta. There will also be the laying of wreaths by the naval Commander at the War Memorial in Floriana and a reception on board the flagship cruiser Moskva. The highlight of the visit will be the participation of the Black Sea Fleet Ensemble in a concert at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
The Black Sea Fleet Ensemble is one of the oldest of its kind in Russia. It was set up in the Russian seaport of Sevastopol in 1932 and has won worldwide acclaim. Today it is a highly professional group that includes graduates and post-graduates from the music and choreography faculties of schools and universities. The ensemble gives about 150 performances a year worldwide.
Initially it was created as a supporting group for the sailors of the Russian Navy of which it has always been an integral part. During the years of the Second World War, the sailors of the Ensemble fought side by side with Russian Navy and Army regulars at the front-line in Odessa, Perekop, Sevastopol, Tuapse and every other battlefield. Having given over 1,500 performances during wartime, the ensemble performed morale boosting concerts for the sailors and the soldiers.
On 22 September the Moskva will be receiving on board on a cultural visit, led by John A. Mizzi, a large group of Maltese boy scouts from St Aloysius’ College.
Historical reference on the flagship Moskva
The cruiser Moskva was originally called Slava. In fact that is how this ship is remembered locally where, in 1989, it was involved in the organisation of the first summit in Malta between the secretary-general of the Communist Party of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev and the President of the United States of America, George Bush (snr).
Throughout the history of the Russian Fleet it is possible to find several ships bearing the same name. The first Slava was a 16-cannon frigate which participated in the war with Turkey in 1768-1774. At the end of the 18th century, it was replaced by a 38-cannon frigate that was stationed in the Baltic Sea. During the First World War, the battleship Slava withstood the German Fleet.
In 2003 the vessel participated in joint manoeuvres with the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Federation and the Naval Forces of India in the Indian Ocean.