Catherine Palace in Pushkin-St Petersburg
Most of the historic buildings in western Russia such as this were destroyed or badly damaged in the Stalin era (especially the churches) or in WWII. When the German forces retreated after the siege of Leningrad, they intentionally destroyed this residence leaving only the hollow shell of the palace behind. Much of the palace has been restored but sections of it still have not.
Victory Day is May 9 in Russia, a day to celebrate the victory over Germany. It is celebrated with a military parade in the morning in Moscow and St Petersburg and by a parade in the afternoon of thousands of people all over Russia who carry photos of those who fought and/or died in the war
Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood
The name of the church comes from the history. It was built by Tsar Alexander III to honor his father, Alexander II, who was assassinated on this spot.
