YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, September 3 (RIA Novosti, Pyotr Tsyrendorzhiyev) - Sakhalin and Kuril Islands in Russia's Far East are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the liberation from militant Japan. A meeting to commemorate those who were killed in the war with Japan in August 1945, the final phase of WWII, took place in the regional center of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Saturday.
The event began with a mock aerial combat involving stunts.
"We are grateful to war veterans, i.e. those who stayed to revive the economy of Kurils islands and southern Sakhalin after August 1945," regional Governor Ivan Malakhov told the meeting. "We promise to ensure that these territories should remain part of Russia."
Also, the car race, which started off in Moscow on June 25, the initiative put forward by the Military Comradeship veterans organization to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of southern Sakhalin and Kuril islands, finished off in the city on Saturday.
Celebrations took place throughout Sakhalin and on the sites of the most fierce battles of August 1945.
Celebrations are part of Days of Peace in the Pacific Ocean, a series of events to celebrate the anniversary in Russia.
