Scottish Ceremony Honors Russian, British Arctic Convoy Veterans

Scotland welcomed Russian and UK Arctic Convoy veterans to Edinburgh at a reception in their honour.

EDINBURGH, December 23 (Sputnik) — Russian and British Arctic Convoy veterans gathered in Edinburgh on Tuesday at a reception to mark a "year of historic milestones", Scotland Office Minister David Mundell said in a statement.

"This has been a year of historic milestones — 70 years since the D-Day landings and 100 years since the start of World War One for example," Mundell said. "On behalf of the UK Government and the people of Scotland it is a great pleasure to welcome UK and Russian Arctic Convoy veterans to Edinburgh and host a reception in their honour."

Mundell thanked UK and Russian Arctic Convoy veterans for what they "did during World War II for our country, for our freedom and for our safety."

The Arctic convoys played a vital role during World War II as Britain resupplied its Soviet Union ally, running the gauntlet of German submarines as well as air and surface ship attacks.

In August, British Arctic Convoy veterans visited Saint Petersburg to mark the anniversary of the first Arctic Convoy in 1941.

In November, Andrei Pritsepov, Consulate General of Russia in Edinburgh, awarded the surviving Scottish convoy veterans the Medal of Ushakov in recognition of their wartime role and courage.