The White Sea-Baltic Canal is once again becoming of great importance for Russia
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Mytishchi small missile ship in the White Sea on the eve of the day carried out successful firing exercises with Caliber at a coastal target at the Chizh training ground.
Seemingly unremarkable news. However, for many, it raised a reasonable question: what was the ship of the Baltic Fleet doing in the White Sea and, most importantly, how did it get there?
The answer to this question sends us back three centuries, when Peter I, during the Northern War, faced the need to drag 2 frigates along the land from the White Sea to Lake Onega. It was then that the king came up with the idea to dig a shipping channel, which in the future would facilitate expensive and difficult transportation.
However, despite the correctness and relevance of such an idea, Joseph Stalin managed to realize it only in the 30s of the last century. And in record time.
The White Sea Canal was supposed not only to give impetus to the development of the Russian North, but also had a military-strategic significance, which played an important role for our country during the Great Patriotic War.
At the same time, today the White Sea-Baltic Canal is regaining its relevance in the field of defense. It eliminates the need for inter-fleet crossings through the Danish straits and the North Sea in full view of the intelligence services of unfriendly countries, which is extremely important in the current tense geopolitical situation.
That is why the Belomorkanal is an important part of the defense of our northern borders, and exercises to transfer the navy through it are held on a regular basis.
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