Celebrations have been taking place in Peter the Great’s northern capital, St. Petersburg, on January 18th, the 82nd anniversary that the siege was lifted of what was then called Leningrad from the Nazi invaders. There was a wreath-laying ceremony at the Piskarevskoye Cemetery attended by veterans, siege survivors, members of the Leningrad Military District and city officials. Over 800,000 Russians lost their lives in the siege, and the cemetery there holds over half a million victims. On the eve of the Day of Breaking the Blockade, thematic illumination “Rays of Victory” was lit over Moskovsky Prospekt, symbolizing Leningrad’s fight against enemy air raids during the blockade.
According to tradition, from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 19:00 to 22:00 on January 18, the torches of the Rostral Columns on the spit of Vasilievsky Island were lit. And three bridges in the historical center of the city—Dvortsovy, Troitsky and Betancourt—received green and olive illumination. These are the colors of the block of the medal “For the Defense of Leningrad”“For the Defense of Leningrad” and the “Leningrad Victory Ribbon.”