Fallen soviet soldiers remembered in Lithuania

The Shaulyai district of Lithuania hosted Tuesday gala ceremonies at the cemeteries of the warriors who died during the Great Patriotic War, the press service of the Russian embassy told RIA Novosti. Participating in the ceremony were Russian ambassador to the Lithuanian Republic Yuri Zubakov, veterans of World War II and representatives of the local authorities and public figures. Some 80,000 Soviet soldiers died in battles for Lithuania's liberation in 1944-45. At present, there are nearly 178 war cemeteries on the country's territory, with memorial ensembles, monuments, obelisks and gravestones. On May 9th, flowers and wreaths will be laid at the Vilnius cemetery near the memorial to Soviet soldiers. Honours to the fallen soldiers will be paid in some Lithuanian cities. The gala events will be attended by veterans of World War II, representatives of the Lithuanian authorities and the public, officials of the embassies of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and other countries.