Russian Navy was absolutely negligent to withdraw vessels from Baltic republics

The Russian Navy abandoned 22 submarines during removal of the Russian forces from the Baltic republics

Many western museums have Soviet submarines among their exhibits. When perestroika began, Russia started to trade even in things traditionally esteemed as relics. That also concerned the Russian fleet. Russia often sold ships during removal of army bases from former Baltic republics.

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The Navy had to sell vessels because of nonpayment of wages and wishing to keep the core of the fleet. At that, ships were often sold at a cheaper price than scrap metal; Swedish and German ferryboats transported many of Russian ships away from Russia. But still many ships remained deserted waterlogged in bays and harbors. In the army harbor of the Latvian city of Liepaja, the Russian fleet left over 40 battleships and three submarines and a floating dock remained in the harbor of Bolderai in Riga. The neglected vessels were the reason why the authorities of the Baltic countries reproached Russia of “deliberate pollution of the European environment.” 

But as it turned out later, Russia had no schemes to cause harm to the Baltic republics at all. In fact, removal of the Russian troops from the Baltic republics revealed absolute chaos and disorganization in the Russian army. Indeed, a thrifty owner would have seized every opportunity to at least dispose of scrap metal. In June 1941, the Soviet Navy abandoned seven submarines in Liepaja when the German troops were advancing. This is incredible that in peaceful conditions of 1994, the Russian Navy abandoned 22 submarines during removal of the Russian forces from the Baltic republics.

In 1941, lieutenant-commander Afanasyev decided to blow up disabled ships so that Germans could not use them, and as a result of the initiative the man was executed by shooting. Was there anyone in the army made responsible for abandoning the Russian squadron in the Baltic republics? In Latvia, the remains of the Baltic Fleet gave birth to a network of companies selling scrap metal. It was approximately at the same period that Estonia also became one of the world leaders in exporting metal.

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