Russia deploys missile corvettes to Lake Ladoga in historic first

The Norwegian newspaper "Berents Observer" reports that the Russians, as part of their strategic maneuvers in the Baltic and Pacific, have introduced missile corvettes on Lake Ladoga for the first time in history. The ships are set to head north to reach the Arctic Ocean.

The Russian Federation regularly conducts exercises using its ships. In July of this year, over 300 vessels sailed out to sea, participating in large-scale operations. Shortly thereafter, in early September, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced further strategic maneuvers of the country's navy.

Now, as part of naval activities in the Baltic and Pacific areas, the Russians have done something unprecedented—they introduced Bujan-class missile corvettes Grad and Naro-Fominsk to Lake Ladoga. The Russians report that these ships are equipped with long-range Kalibr cruise missiles. The Finnish newspaper "Ilta-Sanomat" notes that "such equipment on Lake Ladoga puts Finland in Russia's crosshairs."

The Russian Federation intends to operate around the entire Scandinavian Peninsula. They plan to achieve this by navigating from Lake Ladoga northward through Lake Onega and then through the White Sea–Baltic Canal towards the Arctic Ocean.

Bujan-class ships and Kalibr missiles are crucial components of the Russian fleet, and they are strategically significant in the current conflict with Ukraine. Kalibr missiles, which can be deployed on board Bujan ships, are one of the most significant achievements of Russian military technology. Each missile measures about 9 metres in length and has a diameter of over 0.5 metres. Their range reaches up to 2,500 kilometres, allowing for attacks on long-distance targets, including critical infrastructure deep within enemy territory.

The Bujan missile corvettes exceed 74 metres in length and 11 metres in width. They are powered by four diesel engines with a combined output of nearly 11,000 kW, propelling the ship to speeds of 47 km/h.

Although Bujan Corvettes can be formidable opponents, they have some significant weaknesses. These corvettes have limited self-defence capabilities, making them vulnerable to air and sea attacks. While helpful, self-defence systems such as the 9K38 Igla and the AK-630M cannon are insufficient in intense combat situations.