The flotilla named Russia sailed along the Neva during the 55th annual Scarlet Sails celebration for graduates in St. Petersburg, a moment broadcast by Channel Five. Spectators greeted the approach with cheers and applause, marking the ship’s moment of finale for the event.
In 2023, the Rossiya association celebrated its fifth anniversary. Its construction blended cutting-edge technology with traditional shipbuilding techniques. Channel Five notes that the ship’s iconic red sails were erected specifically for the festival, covering an area of 900 square meters. The voyage along the Neva previously occurred in 2019 under a fireworks spectacle, and in 2020 the passage was adjusted to improve viewing angles from the riverfront cameras and stages.
Channel Five reports that the farewell ceremony for graduates on the Neva included a water-based pyrotechnic show with a central theme of time travel. The event featured a special guest appearance by the pop artist SHAMAN, who performed the track Motherland Begins from the deck of the vessel Russia.
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian president, had previously stated that there were no plans for the presidential press pool to join the Scarlet Sails celebrations in St. Petersburg this year.