BOLSHOI TYUTERS (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov — The expedition is the fourth carried out by the RGS to the Gulf of Finland islands, and is sponsored by the Russian Defense Ministry and the Leningrad Region administration. Some 100 Russian servicemen and 20 units of military equipment are taking part in the expedition. Work on Gogland will concentrate on ecological aspects, while volunteers and journalists on Bolshoi Tyuters will also deal with the exploration of new locations.
"Everyone is ready for the upcoming ecological works. No problems were encountered during the first stage of the expedition." Jarkoy said.
Volunteers and reporters from all over Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) were divided in four groups, each trained in team-building, first aid, camp building and maintenance.
"Due to the weather conditions our group arrived a bit late. The ship unloading process was complicated. We had to build the camp late in the night," Jarkoy noted, adding that the group was divided between two nearby camps and was working hard while the weather conditions were favorable.
An international Russian-German expedition is also due to arrive on the islands, seeking to exhume the remains of fallen German World War II soldiers before reburying them on the mainland. Over 120 remains of German soldiers are currently on the islands, according to the German war graves agency.
