According to the Russian Embassy in Austria, the trip was organized by the International Committee "Peace to Oceans" in order to mark memorable dates of Russia's military history; it is held under the motto "The Terrors of War Must Never Recur."
The main aim of the action held shortly before the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII is to show the world the historic significance of the Great Victory over fascism and to promote reconciliation of European nations that battled each other during the war.
Shortly after their arrival in Austria by Danube from the German town of Regensburg, the Russian war veterans went to lay wreaths at the monument to the victims of the nazi concentration camp at Mounthausen, located on the bank of Danube, 20 kilometers off Linz.
On Sunday night, the ship with Russian WWII veterans on board is leaving for Vienna where they are to meet Austrian servicemen and then take a sightseeing tour of the Austrian capital. The program of their visit also includes laying wreaths at the monument to the Soviet soldier in the center of Vienna in Schwarzenburgplatz square as well as attending a memorial service at Vienna's central cemetery where Soviet soldiers who fell for liberation of the Austrian capital were buried at the end of WWII.
The veterans will leave for Budapest after that.
