25.03.2010
Russian companies working in the UK raised somewhat $400,000 for repair of British cruiser HMS Belfast which was rewarded by Russian president Dmitry Medvedev on March 19, reports BBC.
According to British media, amount of donation would be doubled in the nearest future. Money raised by Russians will be spent on reconstruction of masts.
On March 19 Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree "To award Royal Navy cruiser HMS
Belfast with Certificate of Merit of Supreme Commander of Russian Armed Forces" for heroic participation of the ship in Arctic convoys of World War II. In 1942-1944 the light cruiser had been escorting British convoys which in dangerous environment rendered military aid by delivering warlike equipment to Murmansk – aircraft, tanks, foodstuffs, and medicines.
At present, the last survived participant of Arctic convoys moored at downtown London as a museum of battle fame.
On Wed Vladimir Osipov, head of department of Russian president administration for national rewards gave medals "65th anniversary of Victory" to 13 crewmembers of
Belfast.
Source: RusNavy.com, photo: HMS Belfast (hnsa.org)
