Lost crew of SSN Kursk was honored in St. Petersburg

13.08.2010 Military honors ritual and laying of wreaths were hold on Aug 12 at Serafimovskoye Cemetery in St. Petersburg.

The memorable ceremony was attended by the city governor Valentina Matvienko, Ilya Klebanov, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Northwest Federal District, Rear Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov, Leningrad Naval Base Commander.

Commemoration activities started with wreath laying, then the floor was given to officials. Valentina Matvienko recalled the piece of paper with last words found in the submarine which were "No need for despair". The governor extended thanks to Submariners' Society which contributed to establishment of memorial to Kursk.

Leningrad Naval Base Commander added that the crew of Kursk has been put into the muster roll of Northern Fleet 7th Submarine Division for ever.

When official speeches were over, the names of all officers and sailors died in the perished sub were read off and then came the minute of silence.

Northern Fleet nuclear-powered submarine Kursk wrecked on Aug 12, 2000 in the Barents Sea. Reportedly, the reason of the accident is torpedo explosion in the sub's bow section. The tragedy claimed lives of all 118 crewmembers of SSN Kursk.