Memorabilia from a legendary Russian cruiser “Varyag” were welcomed in St.Petersburg

Memorabilia from a legendary Russian armoured cruiser “Varyag”, were welcomed with military honors at the Hermitage Museum in St.Petersburg, which features a display of historical exhibits from “Variag” as part of a Russian-Korean project. A brass band was playing at the opening ceremony and seamen paraded. The forepart, the anchor, the artillery shells and other historical items from the “Variag” cruiser and the gunboat “Korietz” are in Russia for the first time since 1904. The exhibits are part of a museum collection in Inchon in South Korea, and Russia got a chance to see the items after six years of talks with South Korea. Russian sailors who fought in the Battle of Chemulpo Bay during the Russian-Japanese war early last century were outnumbered by the enemy and unwilling to surrender chose to scuttle the “Varyag” cruiser and blow up the “Korietz” gunboat.