On 29 August, the Russian naval training ship Smolny quietly docked at the Port of Cape Town in what seemed to be an ‘under the radar’ event, to which the Ukrainian community in South Africa expressed outrage, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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During its short visit, the crew of Smolny (part of the Baltic Fleet) visited Simon’s Town to meet the senior command of the South African Navy.
Today, 🇷🇺“Smolny” training ship arrived in the port of Cape Town. The program of the visit includes the “Smolny”’s command meeting with colleagues from the SA Main Naval Base in Simon’s Town. The ship’s arrival is aimed at strengthening naval ties between Russia and South Africa. pic.twitter.com/eqe06tfZG0
— ГК РФ в Кейптауне (@RusConsCapetown) August 29, 2024
The unofficial visit formed part of a long-range sea voyage to conduct maritime practice for cadets of naval educational institutions of Russia’s Ministry of Defence.
‘During the stop, the crew will replenish water, fuel and food supplies and perform [a] technical inspection of the ship. The Baltic Fleet’s sailors and cadets will meet with South African military sailors, go sight-seeing and visit the historical sights of the second most populous city in South Africa,’ the fleet’s press service told Russian news agency Tass.
On 30.08,🇷🇺”Smolny”training ship’s crew held an open day for capetonians and guests of the city. It was followed by a solemn reception on board on behalf of the ship’s command aimed at strengthening bilateral naval ties. Rear Adm. M.Nkomonde became a guest of honour at the event. pic.twitter.com/JqEbsqCdJj
— ГК РФ в Кейптауне (@RusConsCapetown) August 30, 2024
The ship paid unofficial visits to the ports of Havana (Cuba) and La Guaira (Venezuela) before visiting Cape Town.
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However, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis told Daily Maverick that he was unaware of the visit.
‘That seems to have been ‘under the radar’. It’s a great moral shame and stain on this government that they have given and are giving succour to Putin’s Russia.’
The vessel left the Port of Cape Town on 1 September.
In a statement, the Ukrainian Association of South Africa expressed outrage at the situation: ‘Embracing those who kill children is not neutrality! South Africa, STOP military cooperation with Russia!’
It added that a Russian-guided bomb launched from a bomber hit a residential building and playground on 30 August, killing six people including children and injuring more than 100.
‘September 3 – a Russian ballistic missile struck the Institute of Communication and a hospital in Poltava. Over 51 deaths have been confirmed, with more than 253 people injured.
‘September 4 – Russia bombed the centre of Lviv, which is recognised as [a] Unesco heritage [site], destroying 50 civilian buildings including two schools and two hospitals. Among [those] killed – three children.
‘As of September 2024, over 19 546 Ukrainian children remained under Russian control after they were unlawfully and forcibly deported from Ukraine,’ it said.
Furthermore, upon enquiry by the Daily Maverick, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said he was also unaware of the vessel’s visit.
The upcoming visit of a Russian Tupolev Tu-160 long-range bomber has also been condemned by the association, which noted that the airborne missile platform is ‘possibly the one responsible for killing Ukrainian children in Kharkiv’.
The strategic bomber, cited as ‘among the most sophisticated in Russia’s arsenal’ will also feature during the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2024 exhibition later this month.
According to the association, Russian military officers visited an airport near Pretoria ahead of the event to plan the deployment of Tu-160 long-range bombers to the exhibition.
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Picture: Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia