As Russia marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Siege of Leningrad, Yelena Ryzhova, who was a teen when the siege began in 1941, shares her memories about the hardship endured by her family during the blockade. (RFE/RL's Russian Service)
Russia Marks 70th Anniversary Of Lifting Of Siege Of Leningrad
Russian President Vladimir Putin has attended events marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the 872-day siege of Leningrad during World War II.
Putin laid flowers at the Piskaryovskoye cemetery in his native St. Petersburg on January 27, commemorating the more than 1 million people who died from famine and bombardments during the siege.
He also laid flowers at the Nevsky Pyatachok war memorial, at the site where his father was seriously wounded defending the city.
Putin, accompanied by hundreds of remaining survivors of the siege, also observed a military parade.
The siege of Leningrad was a prolonged military operation against the city undertaken by Nazi Germany that lasted from September 8, 1941, to January 27, 1944.
It was one of the longest and most destructive sieges in history.
PHOTO GALLERY: The Siege Of Leningrad
Photo Gallery:
Seventy Years After The Siege Of Leningrad
Russia is marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the Siege of Leningrad on January 27, 1944. The siege by German and Finnish forces during World War II lasted for 872 days -- one of the longest and deadliest in history. Estimates of casualties vary, but some sources state that 1 million residents of Leningrad -- present-day St. Petersburg -- died from hunger, disease, exposure, and shelling. (10 PHOTOS)
Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS
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