Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the opening ceremony for the Invincible Admiral – Invincible Russia: Holy Righteous Warrior Fyodor Ushakov exhibition, Moscow, October 20, 2023

Colleagues,

Mr Stepashin,

I am delighted to welcome everyone to the opening ceremony for the Invincible Admiral – Invincible Russia: Holy Righteous Warrior Fyodor Ushakov exhibition.  This illustrious military leader went down in history as an outstanding naval commander and an extraordinary example of selfless service to the Fatherland.

I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society Sergey Stepashin for his initiative to hold the exhibition at the Foreign Ministry.   

The society’s active work to promote historical truth has always been of particular importance. I also would like to thank the representatives of the Russian State Archive of Military History and the St Spyridon of Trimithoundos Centre for Cultural Cooperation, as well as all contributors to this important initiative.   

Fyodor Ushakov was the greatest admiral in Russia’s history and, without any exaggeration, a symbol of glory and victorious traditions of the Russian Navy. He used to say about himself that he always preferred to be out at sea rather than in the harbour. His victories in the Battle of Kerch, Battle of Tendra, Battle of Kaliakra, Battle of Corfu, and Battle of Fidonisi won him great fame as an outstanding admiral. In the East, he was nicknamed Ushak Pasha.  Ushakov’s talent as an organiser revealed itself in full during the construction of the port of Sevastopol and the creation of the Black Sea fleet. His contribution to naval science can hardly be overestimated. He was ahead of the famous British admiral Horatio Nelson by several years in using new sailing fleet tactics that enabled him to defeat enemy squadrons wherever he engaged them. He did not suffer a single defeat, nor lost a single ship. None of his subordinates were ever taken prisoner.

Fyodor Ushakov is widely celebrated to this day. Streets in many Russian cities from Vladivostok to Leningrad are named after him. Monuments to him have been erected in Greece, Bulgaria, and Italy. During the Great Patriotic War, the most prestigious naval decoration, the Order of Ushakov, was instituted. Fyodor Ushakov is the only Russian military leader to be canonised by the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Foreign Ministry continues doing whatever is needed to preserve the memory of Fyodor Ushakov. This work strengthens the continuity of times and links between generations, which is all the more important today, when the collective West is attempting to distort and besmirch our country’s history.   

I would like to use this occasion to donate some copies of materials about our great compatriot from the Foreign Policy Archive of Russia to the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society.