Anniversary of Battle of Stalingrad marked in Volgograd reg

VOLGOGRAD. February 2. KAZINFORM The 66th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad will be marked on Monday in Volgograd (former Stalingrad) and the Volgograd region.

Governor Nikolai Maksyuta said ?we shall mark this memorable and dear for every citizen of Volgograd date despite all financial difficulties?. Wreaths and flowers will be put on Monday to numerous monuments and burial sites, the press service of the region?s governor said. Mamayev Kurgan Hill will be the main site, as it was the epicentre of the Battle of Stalingrad. Over 30,000 soldiers are buried there. A minute of silence will be observed at 14:00, Moscow time. An All-Russia race will begin at 11:30, Moscow time. Sources from the Volgograd Mayor?s Office said over 2,000 people are expected to participate, including school, college and university students, teams from Volgograd districts, the region and Russian cities, as well as veterans of sports and non-professional runners. It is expected that diplomats from Great Britain, the USA and Moldova will take part in events marking the anniversary. About 2,500 participants in the Battle of Stalingrad live in the Volgograd region. Those of them who cannot attend events because of poor health will receive presents and congratulations at home, Kazinform cites ITAR-TASS. About 1.200 million Soviet soldiers died in that battle. The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the turning points of World War II. It was also the bloodiest battle in human history.