The Adzhimushkai quarries are underground stone pits in the city of Kerch where, in 1942, some of the Crimean Front troops were surrounded by the Nazis and led a heroic defence against the German Nazi troops. In 2015, the Azhimushkai search expedition lasted from July 20 until August 2 and consisted of 72 individuals: searchers from Crimea and 12 other Russian regions, as well as Ukraine. The expedition was conducted with support from the Russian Defence Ministry and included military service members.
The Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office was told the results of the expedition. The search team found a field kitchen, war graves, medals and an ammunition depository in the catacombs. Sergei Ivanov and the expedition participants set a candle at the mass grave.
Mr Ivanov awarded honorary certificates of the Presidential Executive Office to head of the expedition Vladimir Simonov, head of the Rostov Division of the Search Movement of Russia Vladimir Shcherbanov and Deputy Chairperson of the East Crimean Centre for Military History Studies Oksana Demidenko for perpetuating the memory of the fallen defenders of the Fatherland.
Sergei Ivanov also noted that until now, the remains of some soldiers and officers who had fallen during various years of the war on Russian territory still have not been buried with dignity, so the search parties’ work is highly important. The Defence Ministry, Russian Geographical Society and independent public organisations specialising in the collection of unique military equipment are providing assistance to search groups. Mr Ivanov stressed that the government will continue to provide support to search parties.