🚀 Kolkata hosts an exhibition of children's drawings about space.

In view of the upcoming Cosmonautics Day, the Russian House in Kolkata organized an art contest "Space Through the Eyes of Children". On April 6, young artists have been invited to express their vision of space exploration.

More than 100 artworks have been submitted for the contest. Sergey Shushin, Director of the Russian House in Kolkata, personally awarded the participants with certificates and souvenirs.

🎨 The exhibition is open to public till the Cosmonautics Day, April 12.

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#CosmonauticsDay

🌐 On April 9, the Russian Embassy in New Delhi hosted the III Eurasian Meeting of Russian Women Compatriots held under the auspices of the Russian Government Commission on Compatriots Living Abroad and with the support of the Moscow Government.

💬 In his welcoming remarks, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov underscored the contribution of the Russian diaspora to the promotion of the Russian language, cultural and family values, preservation of historical memory and truth about the Great Patriotic War as well as the expansion of educational exchanges.

The opening ceremony was also addressed by Yelena Afanasyeva, Member of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, Olga Timofeyeva, Chairwoman of the State Duma Committee on Development of Civil Society, Issues of Public Associations and Religious Organizations, Tatyana Vasilieva, Deputy Minister of Education of Russia, Irina Kirkora, Deputy Chaiman of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, and Marina Nikulshina, Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow.

📁 The message to the forum by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin was delivered as well.

The meeting was moderated by Alexey Roskoshny, Department for Relations with Compatriots Abroad, Russian Foreign Ministry.

👥 The event was attended by more than 60 representatives of the Russian compatriot associations from 38 countries, which are engaged in active public activities.

The forum will continue its work on April 10.

🔸 @RusEmbIndia

🗓 On April 10, 1944, exactly 8️⃣0️⃣ years ago, the forces of the Third Ukrainian Front under the command of Army General Rodion Malinovsky ousted Nazi German and Romanian invaders from Odessa.

🕯 The Nazi occupation of the city lasted 907 days. During this period, approximately 200,000 people died in Odessa and in the region. Many of them fell victim to mass bloody massacres and brutal executions. About 78,000 people were deported to Germany for forced labour; plants and factories were destroyed; and over 2,000 buildings, including hospitals and schools, were blown up or burned down.

During their retreat, German and Romanian troops shot at ordinary people, including the elderly, women and children and mined the most important buildings, plants, the power station and the seaport.

⚔️ The Red Army inflicted a crushing defeat on the enemy with over 27,000 soldiers and officers killed and more than 11,000 taken prisoner. The enemy also lost 952 artillery pieces, 443 tanks and assault guns, and 97 ammunition and food depots.

The liberation of Odessa by the Red Army disrupted supplies to the German army group in Crimea and opened the way to an offensive towards the Balkans.

During the entire period of occupation, local citizens resisted the Nazis. After the city was captured, they went into catacombs. During the war, Odessa underground fighters and partisans destroyed over 5,000 enemy soldiers and officers, 248 motor vehicles, and saved about 20,000 Soviet citizens from being forcibly exported to Germany.

In honour of the liberation of Odessa, 324 artillery pieces made 24 salvoes in Moscow.

🎖 The honorable title of Odessa units was conferred on 27 formations and units that distinguished themselves during the operation. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to 14 people and over 2,000 people received Soviet orders and medals.

On May 8, 1965, Odessa was officially declared Hero City.

#Victory79