Russian veterans of Arctic Convoys to see May 9 in London

07.04.2010 Three Russian veterans of Arctic convoys will see Victory Day on May 9 in London among British vets, informs RIA Novosti referring to press release of tour sponsoring organization.

During World War II northern convoys consisting mainly of British servicemen had been delivering provisions and military equipment to Soviet northern ports via Arctic regions.

Participants of those convoys Nikolai Kireichev (born in 1927), Georgy Yevtiukov (1929) and Yury Kopytov will depart from Arkhangelsk to visit British capital city.

It is going to be the fourth joint Russo-British celebration of Victory Day in London associated with heroism of Arctic Convoys 1941-1945. The festivities will be traditionally held on museum cruiser Belfast where Russian vets will meet with British veterans of Royal Navy who took part in Arctic Convoys.

"In the course of celebration Russian ambassador to the UK Yury Fedotov will award several British veterans with medals "65th anniversary of the Great Victory" in acknowledgment of their contribution to the jointly gained victory", says the release.

After a one-minute silence Royal Signals Band will play national anthems of the two countries and Belfast will fire salute by her 4-inch guns.

In total, during WW2 40 convoys including somewhat 800 ships were dispatched from the Great Britain to the Soviet Union. Over 100 ships were scuppered as a result of enemy's submarine and air attacks; almost 3,000 British servicemen died.

Nevertheless, northern convoys delivered to the USSR about 4 mln units of cargo (approx one fourth of total aid of western allies). Among successfully delivered cargo were over 22,000 aircraft, about 13,000 tanks, almost 376,000 trucks, and also fuel, provisions, medicines, telephone wires, outfits, metals and other raw materials.

The contribution of Arctic Convoys to the Victory in WW2 was deservedly appreciated by Russian authorities. Medal investing ceremonies for British veterans are regularly held in Russian embassy in London; British defense ministry instituted memorable sign Arctic Emblem in 2006. In 2009 a memorial to lost participants of Arctic Convoys was built in Orkney Islands near north coast of Scotland.

Recent veterans of the convoys are honored guests at memorable ceremonies near Soviet memorial in London both on Russia's Victory Day [celebrated on May 9] and British Remembrance Day in the middle November.