Stele Honoring Stalingrad Valor Misses Opening on Victory Anniversary
In Kamyshin on February 2, the 83rd anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad, the opening of the stele «Stalingrad Valor Line» did not take place, although the object on Fallen Fighters Square is fully ready.
Initially, the stele and improvement of the adjacent area were planned to be completed by November 19 — the date of the start of the Soviet counteroffensive at Stalingrad — but the work was not finished then.
Over 40 million rubles (about $444,000 at current rates) were allocated from the budget for the project.
The contractor was Granit LLC, registered in Chechnya, which previously installed a similar monument in Gorodishche and was fined 300 thousand rubles (about $3,300 at current rates).
The press service of the Kamyshin administration confirmed that the opening on February 2 was not planned and advised to address this issue to the government of Volgograd Region.
Local residents suggest that the ceremonial opening may take place on May 9 during festive events on Fallen Fighters Square.
«Probably, Bocharov will come in spring. He is always in Kamyshin on May 9 because a 101-year-old war veteran lives here. The last combat veteran of the Battle of Stalingrad. Bocharov comes to see him around May 7. It has been two years in a row now. Naturally, a number of patriotic and other events are held along the way,» says one of the residents.
The press service of Governor Andrei Bocharov has not yet announced the date for the upcoming opening of the stele.
Earlier, ahead of the 83rd anniversary of the Stalingrad victory, a memorial sign «Stalingrad Valor Line» was opened in Surovikino.
In total, eight settlements in Volgograd Region have been awarded this title:
- Kletskaya
- Kotelnikovo
- Serafimovich
- Kamyshin
- Gorodishche
- Svetly Yar
- Oktyabrsky
- Surovikino
