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The monument was unveiled by Hero of Russia Vyacheslav Sipko and twice Hero of the Soviet Union Mikhail Odintsov in the presence of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
The ceremony was attended by veterans from Russia and CIS countries as well as students from the cadet corps.
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Speech at Ceremony for Unveiling Monument in honour of Cities awarded the Honorary Title of the Russian Federation, City of Military Glory
President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Dear veterans, Mr President Lukashenko, Mr President Yanukovych, dear friends,
On this wonderful May day, the eve of Victory Day, we are attending a significant event: today, jointly with our friends from Belarus and Ukraine we unveiled a symbol of our Victory, our common Victory, a memorial that immortalizes the cities of military glory. These cities are as important in the history of the Great Patriotic War as many others, including the great cities who have been awarded the title of Hero Cities and whose monument is nearby. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is also here.
This is a sign of unity, the great endeavours and the great friendship that binds our countries and peoples. And this friendship is, of course, rooted in the events of the Great Patriotic War. The veterans who are present here today well remember what happened at that time. It was the hardest, most bloody, most difficult war, a war in which our peoples were pushed to the brink of survival. It was only thanks to your efforts, thanks to those who gave their lives in the Great Patriotic War, that we all have a future, that we all can enjoy this spring, observe our countries develop, cherish our friendship, create families, and make new plans.
Thank you very much for everything that you did. Many subsequent generations of Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians bear an irredeemable debt to you. I am very pleased that today this ceremony is attended not only by our dear veterans from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, but also the leaders, the presidents of these countries.
Unfortunately, life is such that sometimes absolutely obvious things are questioned. Proven, indisputable facts of history become the stuff of political disputes. And it is very important that today, on this day, we come together and honour with my colleagues the sacred memory of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War, all those who fought here in Russia, and in Ukraine and Belarus.
I would like to sincerely congratulate the veterans on tomorrow’s holiday. Tomorrow parades will take place throughout our countries. Tomorrow will be a great day, the 65th anniversary of Victory.
I wish you all health. We will do everything so that our countries develop, that the people living in them live well, and that the glory of the Great Patriotic War never fades, so that it always remains part of the lives of our descendants. One symbol of this glory is the just unveiled monument to the cities of military glory.
Congratulations! Happy Victory Day!
May 8, 2010, Alexander Garden, Moscow