On September 8, the Russian Centre of FSS hosted a lecture delivered by professor Andrey A. Alimov via Zoom. The lecture, entitled “The 900 Days Siege of Leningrad”, was the first of the lecture series presented by Russian Centre to the UM community this academic year.
The siege of Leningrad was a prolonged military blockade undertaken from the south by the Army Group North of Nazi Germany against the Soviet city of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) on the Eastern Front in World War II. The blockade became one of the longest and most destructive sieges in history, and it was possibly the costliest siege in history due to the number of casualties which were suffered throughout its duration. This lecture led the audience relived this history and explored the city after the siege and today.
Professor Edmund Li Sheng, Director of Russian Centre, introduced the speaker and the background of Great Patriotic War of Soviet Union to the audience at the beginning of lecture. Prof. Andrey A. Alimov was born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) during the 900 days siege of the city in the World War II, obtained Ph.D. degree in History in Leningrad State University, and he is currently a professor of the School of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University.
