June 22, 2023: today Russia marks the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow. It was timed to coincide with the start of World War II, when Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union.

A number of activities were organized in Taganrog to commemorate the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow. In particular, representatives of the municipal committees, led by President of Taganrog City Council and City Executive Inna Titarenko and Taganrog City Manager Andrey Fateyev laid flowers at "The City of Military Glory" Stela. The ceremony brought together veterans, representatives of NGOs and enterprises, students, and other citizens.


"Dear residents of Taganrog! Dear veterans! Today we have gathered here, at the stela dedicated to Taganrog as the City of Military Glory, in order to remember the tragic events of 1941. Yes, we have gathered here-this means that over the past year we have not forgotten neither the great tragedy nor the great feat of our people. We have not forgotten that great Victory was won at the cost of incredible, inhuman efforts, at the cost of uniting the whole nation.

"Today, as then, we must understand that Europe has not begun to love us more. For them, as then, in 1941, we are subhumans who need to be taught how to love our country, to be taught what democracy is, to be taught what kind of education system should be in our country. But today, as then, our people are uniting in the face of a great danger - Nazism. And today, as then, we understand that it is possible to eliminate this danger only by combining our efforts, only by the unity of our thoughts, spirit, mentality," said Inna Titarenko in her speech.

President of Taganrog City Council and City Executive also wished the audience victory, peaceful skies, and happiness.


Taganrog Local Government officials also laid flowers on war memorials "Tank," "To Pilots," "To Underground Heroes," "To Sailors," "To Soviet and Party Officials," "Cup of Bitterness," "To Fallen Warriors," "To Fallen Constructors of Combine Harvesters."

People across Russia, among them residents and visitors of Taganrog, observed a minute of silence in solemn commemoration. The event began on June 22 at 12:15PM Moscow time. At that moment, on June 22, 1941, an appeal was made to the inhabitants of the country, following the announcement of the attack by fascist troops on the USSR.