Eternal Flame in Victory Park, an archive photo.
In Moscow, on the anniversary of the Leningrad blockade`s commencement, activists from the `Molodaya Gvardiya Edinoy Rossii` (MGER) and `Volunteers` Company` organized a commemorative event. They used lanterns to form the number 872, signifying the exact duration of the siege in days. Alexander Lebedev, Deputy Head of MGER, addressing the gathering at Poklonnaya Hill, emphasized: “Today, by illuminating the number 872, we honor the memory of those who resiliently withstood the enemy during the blockade.” Over 500 participants placed flowers at the Eternal Flame, paying solemn tribute to the countless lives lost during those harrowing days.
Lebedev further noted the significance of Dmitri Shostakovich`s 7th `Leningrad` Symphony, which was performed by the Eternal Flame. He stated that this powerful music, much like the courageous spirit of the Leningraders themselves, symbolizes life and ultimate victory over fascism. Despite enduring extreme hardships, the city`s inhabitants demonstrated unwavering resolve, contributing to the war effort by manufacturing shells and extinguishing bombs on rooftops.
The brutal Siege of Leningrad, which began on September 8, 1941, lasted for nearly 900 days. The `Road of Life,` established across the frozen Lake Ladoga, served as the city`s sole lifeline for vital supplies. While the blockade was partially broken on January 18, 1943, Leningraders had to endure another full year before its complete lifting on January 27, 1944.
In a landmark decision in October 2022, the St. Petersburg City Court formally recognized the Nazi actions during the Siege of Leningrad as both a war crime and an act of genocide against the Soviet people. According to comprehensive data collected by the city`s prosecutor`s office, the siege claimed the lives of no less than 1,093,842 individuals. Furthermore, the estimated damage inflicted upon Leningrad and its residents by the Nazis and their collaborators amounts to a staggering 35.3 trillion rubles at the current exchange rate.
