Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL-18) used a picture of a Russian naval vessel to say ‘Happy Birthday’ to the US Navy. The ship shown happens to be the Russian atomic battlecruiser «Пётр Великий» (Pyotr Velikiy -- which translates as «Peter the Great»).
This floating faux pas was caught by David Brown, deputy defense editor at POLITICO, who posted it on Twitter and later did a follow-up.
The Florida Republican is not exactly a stranger to things Russian.
Last year Brian Mast’s campaign was mentioned in connection to the "Guccifer 2.0" hackers who stole information from the Democratic National Committee. Guccifer 2.0 was a front for the GRU (ГРУ) -- Russian military intelligence.
A few days ago Mast had to return a $2,173 campaign contribution from Igor Fruman, one of the two Soviet-born associates of Rudy Giuliani who were arrested when trying to flee the US.
It’s almost as if the image of the Russian ship were a subconscious cry for help by Mast: “Stop me before I collude again!!!”











