WWII monument unveiled in central Moscow
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The monument of the City of Military Glory was unveiled Saturday at Alexander Garden near Red Square, launching a series of celebrations to mark the 65th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
The presidents of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, together with WWII veterans from Russia and other member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States, attended the ceremony.
The dignitaries also laid wreaths at the monument, one day ahead of the victory anniversary.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the Great Patriotic War, which refers to the battles fought by the Soviet Union from June 1941 to May 1945 against Nazi Germany and its allies on the Eastern Front, was the "most tragic and toughest" war ever.
The new monument was "a symbol of collective victory and military honor," Medvedev said, while extending festival congratulations and sincere gratitude to the war's veterans.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, also spoke highly of the victory in the Anti-Fascist war and extended greetings to the veterans as well.
For the anniversary fete, Russia completed renovation of the memorial facilities in Alexander Garden, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Eternal Flame, and the monument of Hero City with soil samples from Russian Hero Cities.
With the addition of the newest monument, the facilities compose the memorial of national military honor.
A total of 27 Russian cities so far have been awarded the title of City of Military Glory for courage and heroism displayed by their local soldiers during the Great Patriotic War.
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