MURMANSK, July 27 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the main base of the Russian Northern Fleet in the city of Severomorsk in the Murmansk Region on Sunday, where he laid wreaths at the monument to Defenders of the Soviet Arctic.
The monument to Defenders of the Soviet Arctic during the Great Patriotic War (a term used in Russia and other ex-Soviet states to describe the conflict between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany during World War II), commonly known as Alyosha Monument, is one of the symbols of Severomorsk. It is the second-tallest monument in Russia, which depicts a navy man with a rifle.
Putin arrived in the Murmansk region to take part in the Russian Navy Day celebrations. Later in the day he is expected to make a boat inspection of the Northern Fleet warships and congratulate the crews on the Navy Day. A parade and a naval pageant are to take place soon after that.
Putin will also hold a video conference on the occasion of laying down nuclear submarines Krasnoyarsk and Knyaz Oleg at the Sevmash shipyard in the city of Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region.
