 This was threatened if Britain gave diplomatic recognition to the Confederacy.The flagship of the Russian Pacific squadron, "Bogatyr" under Rear Admiral Andrey Alexandrovich Popov, officially made a friendly visit to Melbourne in early 1863.According to information passed on to Australian authorities in June 1864, Rear Admiral A.A. Popov had in the first half of the year 1863 received orders and a plan of attack on the British naval ships positioned near the Australian shore.