Ukrainian President to Visit His Father's Grave in Novgorod Region

On May 9, the Victory Day, Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma will visit his father's grave in the Novgorod Region, Russia.

RIA Novosti was told at the Novgorod Region's administration that the Ukrainian leader's aircraft would land at the military aerodrome in the Krechevitsy settlement near Veliky Novgorod on Friday at 12.30, Moscow time.

Initially, the regional administration pointed out, it was planned that Kuchma will arrive at Veliky Novgorod on May 7, but then another date, May 9, was named. The cause for the change is not reported.

From the aerodrome Kuchma will go to the military garrison in the Novoselitsy settlement, where his father was buried in a war memorial. Senior sergeant Danil Kuchma died of wounds on February 7, 1942 in the army hospital No. 756.

The fact of death of the senior sergeant Danil Kuchma in the Novgorod military hospital was established in the spring of 1996.

Since that time, the Ukrainian president annually flies to Novoselitsy in May to visit the grave of his father, participant in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War against German Nazis.

It is expected that Kuchma's visit will last several hours.

An observation site with a view of the picturesque flood-lands of the Msta river was built in Novoselitsy settlement for the president's arrival.

According to information provided by Novoselitsy garrison, a serviceman of this garrison known for his skill of wood carving, is cutting a vase from the Novgorod birch burl as his personal gift to Kuchma.