Events of 2016 in St. Petersburg: from the Kadyrov Bridge to the Aurora

At the beginning of 2026, social media was swept by a wave of nostalgia for 2016. Users are sharing memories, photos, and cultural references from that time. Journalists from «Fontanka» also decided to look back and recall the key events that occurred in St. Petersburg ten years ago.

Origin of the Trend

The trend of reminiscing about 2016 originated in foreign social networks such as TikTok and Instagram. Users recalled not only their personal lives but also iconic cultural phenomena: Beyoncé«s visual album »Lemonade«, Leonardo DiCaprio»s Oscar win, the popularity of the game Pokemon Go. Some associate the start of this trend with the finale of the series «Stranger Things», the last episodes of which were released in December 2025. Gradually, the flashmob spread to the Russian segment of the internet.

Economic Context: Oil

Contemporary economic problems related to low oil prices contrast with the situation in 2016. Back then, in January, a barrel of Brent crude oil cost about $27, while in 2026 the price has risen to $64.84, and Russian Urals due to sanctions is traded at a discount. In 2016, «Fontanka» even calculated that for the cost of one liter of oil, one could buy, for example, one diaper, 100 grams of bread, or three chicken eggs.

Unusual Event: An Elephant in the City

In May 2016, Petersburgers could see an unusual sight: a 26-year-old elephant named Gerda from the Rosgostsirk (Russian State Circus) was being walked through the city. The animal participated in a charitable Day of Good in the Park of the 300th Anniversary, bathed in a fountain, and played with sand. The organizers explained this as a desire to remind city residents of elephants, which had not been in the local zoo for over thirty years. Interestingly, in 2026, Laos gifted St. Petersburg two elephants, but suitable conditions for their accommodation still do not exist.

Growth of the «Immortal Regiment» Action

The «Immortal Regiment» action in 2016 gathered about half a million participants in St. Petersburg. Over the decade, the number of city residents who marched with portraits of relatives along Nevsky Prospect more than doubled and in 2026 reached 1.1 million people.

Public Disputes

In the summer of 2016, two public disputes erupted in the city. The first concerned the naming of a bridge over the Duderhofsky Canal in honor of Akhmat Kadyrov, against which residents collected signatures and held a rally, but the decision was not changed. The second conflict arose due to the installation of a memorial plaque for Finnish Marshal Carl Gustaf Mannerheim. His personality is evaluated ambiguously: on one hand, he was a general in the Russian army, on the other — during World War II, Finnish troops under his command fought on the side of Germany.

At the plaque unveiling ceremony, then Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky stated: «The Mannerheim memorial plaque is an attempt to overcome the tragic split in society that occurred after the October Revolution. And to those who are shouting there now, I want to say: don»t be holier than the Pope and don«t try to be a greater patriot and communist than Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, who personally protected Mannerheim, ensured his election and retention of the post of President of Finland, and knew how to treat a defeated but worthy opponent with respect.»

However, the plaque was repeatedly vandalized: it was doused with paint, beaten, and, according to some reports, even shot at. As a result, four months after installation, on the night of October 14, 2016, the memorial sign was removed and moved to the «Ratnaya Palata» museum in Tsarskoye Selo. This operation was carried out by the Russian Military-Historical Society under the leadership of Vladimir Medinsky.

Return of the Cruiser «Aurora»

In July 2016, the famous cruiser «Aurora» returned to its eternal mooring at the Petrograd Embankment after repair works in Kronstadt. «Fontanka» covered this event in detail in real time.

Opening of New Holland

2016 was the moment when the island of New Holland first opened to city residents, having been closed for almost three centuries. The reconstruction of the territory was carried out by structures associated with businessman Roman Abramovich.

First SUP Festival

In the autumn of 2016, the publication «Fontanka» organized the city«s first SUP surfing festival, in which 200 athletes participated. Over ten years, the number of participants has grown to 10,000 people.

Corruption Arrests

The year was also marked by corruption scandals. Deputy of the Legislative Assembly Vyacheslav Notyag was taken into custody on suspicion of bribery, and later former Vice-Governor Marat Oganesyan, accused of embezzlement during the construction of the Gazprom Arena stadium.

Completion of an Infrastructure Project

Moreover, in 2016, the decade-long construction of the Western High-Speed Diameter was completed — traffic opened on the last section of this highway.