City Day celebrations on Red Square in Moscow

Russia’s capital celebrates its 865th anniversary together with residents of the new territories as Moscow acquired 150,000 hectares of neighboring territories from its southwest borders.

Muscovites and city guests will be able to take part in over 600 celebrations, which include a number of festivals - from cooking to crafts, and fireworks at different points in the city.

The weather on the first day of celebrations was cool and dry. But the city authorities promised to disperse the clouds in case of rain.

The key festive sites during City Day will be downtown Red Square and the Poklonnaya Hill in western Moscow. Photo: Ballet dancer Ilze Liepa during a show on Red Square.

Wreaths will be laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden and the Marshall Zhukov monument.

A show City of Love that will tell about the major historical events of Moscow including the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino and the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 will be held on Red Square. More than 7,000 guests were invited for the show.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech at the opening ceremony. He congratulated Muscovites on the city’s birthday and said that Moscow was and remains a symbol of Russian statehood. Photo: Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

More than 7,000 people were invited to take part in celebrations on Red Square.