Russian regions: Smolensk celebrates its 1150th anniversary

September 24, Smolensk city celebrates two anniversaries at once: the 1150 anniversary of the founding of the city and the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Smolensk region from Nazi invaders. President of Russia congratulated the residents of the city with these significant events. 

“For centuries, Smolensk played a crucial role in strengthening the Russian state in the development of national culture, science and education. You can be proud of the glorious pages of the history of the native city, and many generations of countrymen, among whom were well-known writers and scholars, artists and composers, the legendary military leaders”, - said in a greeting message.

The Head of State stressed that the “ancient Smolensk was a member of many heroic, truly epoch-making events. But regardless of trials, its people always overcame them with honor, becoming a stronger and stronger in spirit”.

According to V. Putin, “in memory of the peoples will forever be unprecedented courage and fortitude of our soldiers and officers, members of the guerrilla movement, which 70 years ago, in the fall of 1943 Smolensk liberated from Nazi invaders, entered the brightest pages in the annals of the Great Patriotic War”.

The first mention of Smolensk is found in chronicles of Ustyug in 863. The city’s motto – “Indomitable spirit prevails everything”. Smolensk is called the city - the key to Moscow, it was reflected in folklore and in the chronicles.