Russia awards British WW2 veterans

British veteran members of the Arctic convoys which delivered vital supplies to the northern ports of the Soviet Union during the World War Two, met with their Russian counterparts in London to celebrate Victory Day and receive honours from the Russian state.

British veterans were awarded Russian Arctic Medals honouring their deeds and commemorating the Britain-Russia alliance in 1941-1945.

The ceremony took place on HMS Belfast, London’s Floating Naval Museum, which is a living memory from those cold Arctic days.

Back in 1942 it was the largest and possibly the most powerful cruiser in the Royal Navy, responsible for providing heavy close-range cover for the Arctic convoy.

In total 78 of them made their perilous way to and from North Russia carrying four million tonnes of supplies - food, tanks and aircraft to be used by Soviet allies in the fight against Nazis on the Eastern Front.

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