The President said, in particular, in his telegram:
“These academies, founded in the difficult year of 1943, became a true and dependable home for hundreds of boys from all around the country, made homeless by war, and whose fathers gave their lives on the frontlines of the Great Patriotic War.
From their very start, these truly unique academies were renowned for their marvellous teachers and mentors, and for the excellent quality of the education they gave. The boys forged their character through study, sports and military training, and developed a strong sense of moral and ethical values.
The academies’ graduates went on to become excellent commanders, talented academics, engineers, politicians and diplomats, who always served their country worthily, still do so today, and recall most fondly their time at the academies.
I am sure that the new generations of students will continue to cherish and preserve their predecessors’ glorious traditions and value the ideals of comradeship, military brotherhood, patriotism and civic spirit.”
The Suvorov academies were named in honour of the great Russian commander Alexander Suvorov (1730–1800), and the Nakhimov academies were named in honour of the renowned Russian admiral, Pavel Nakhimov (1802–1855).