Meeting with Russian veterans in the British city of Leeds

On May 6, 2019, nine Russian veterans who traveled a long way from Moscow to Leeds took part in celebrations marking the 74th anniversary of the Great Victory. Every year, Russian society Baltika based in the city of Leeds holds a Memorial Day, dedicated to the end of World War II. The event began with the flower-laying ceremony at the grave of the Soviet soldier. The concert that followed opened with a minute of silence in memory of those killed in the crash at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow. Participants of military events told about their difficult fate, shared memories, sang songs and read poems. The meeting was also attended by British veteran Jeffrey Malan. The Lord Mayor of Leeds Graham Latty, who was born before the war, attended the important Russian-British event. The head of the city shared his memories of the wartime and thanked the organizers, participants, and guests of the event for preserving historical memory. The chairperson of the Russian society Baltika and the head of the “Meeting Veterans” project Karina Polyakova expressed her gratitude to the organizers of the meeting. Veterans received memorable gifts and flowers. Based on materials of the charitable organization Baltika (Leeds).