President Vladimir Putin presented official documents conferring the honorary title of City of Military Glory to the mayors of Belgorod, Oryol and Kursk.
In an address at the ceremony, Mr Putin noted that Belgorod, Kursk and Oryol are the first Russian cities to receive this honorary title. The three cities received the title both for their heroic past and for the decency and care with which they treat history today.
The Belgorod, Kursk and Oryol Regions provide great assistance to war veterans, keep war burial sites very well maintained and carry out work with veterans and youth organisations to preserve and develop the glorious traditions of Russian history, Mr Putin said.
The President congratulated the residents and the leadership of the three cities and regions on this important occasion.
Along with the three mayors, the ceremony was attended by the governors of Belgorod, Kursk and Oryol Regions, the heads of the local legislative assemblies, veterans, including Heroes of the Soviet Union and Chevaliers of the Order of Glory, who took part in the Battle of Kursk and the liberation of Belgorod, the heads of veterans’ organisations, members of the Victory Russian Organisational Committee, students from the Nakhimov and Suvorov military academies and members of a children’s military-patriotic club.