Penny bun mushroom (Boletus edulis) near a memorial to military pilots in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 30, 2017
Orange club parasitic fungus Cordyceps militaris on a log near Lisiy Nos, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 1, 2018
Military ships in Petrovskaya Harbor. Kronstadt (part of Saint Petersburg), Russia, July 11, 2009
Young fairy inkcap mushrooms (Coprinellus disseminatus) behind a memorial to military pilots in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 30, 2017
Military equipment in a railroad museum on Varshavsky Train Station. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 8, 2012
Decaying military ships in Vladimirskaya Bukhta (harbor) of Ladozhskoe Lake, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg, Russia. September 8, 2002
Sinking military ships in Vladimirskaya Bukhta (harbor) of Ladoga Lake, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Rusty military ships in Vladimirskaya Bukhta (harbor) of Ladozhskoe Lake, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg, Russia. September 8, 2002
Floating lighthouse and naval ships in Yuzhnaya Stenka Harbor in military base V/Ch 20862. Oranienbaum (Lomonosov), a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 4, 2010
Golden pocket watch Pavel Bure belonging to a Soviet military leader N. Podvoisky in Museum of Political History (Kshesinskaya Mansion). Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 24, 2011
Sunken military ship in Vladimirskaya Bukhta (harbor) of Ladoga Lake, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Barracks of VMF Rocket Military Training, view from Flotskaya Street. Kronstadt (part of Saint Petersburg), Russia, July 11, 2009
Rusty military ships in Vladimirskaya Bukhta (harbor) of Ladoga Lake, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Auxiliary ship VTR-79 with electro-hydraulic crane in Yuzhnaya Stenka Harbor in military base V/Ch 20862. Oranienbaum (Lomonosov), a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 4, 2010
Lighthouse and military ships from Petrovsky Park in Kronstadt. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 21, 2011
Soviet military ship "Dolphin" in Vladimirskaya Bukhta (harbor) of Ladoga Lake, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Decaying military ships in Vladimirskaya Bukhta (harbor) of Ladozhskoe Lake, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg, Russia. September 8, 2002
Military patrol in Pskov, view from a window of a tourist bus. Russia, August 8, 2004
Seagoing tug ship MB-169 in Yuzhnaya Stenka Harbor in military base V/Ch 20862. Oranienbaum (Lomonosov), a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 4, 2010
Mikhaylov Military Artillery Academy from Voznesenskaya Embankment. Saint Petersburg, Russia, January 10, 2017
Military Medical Academy at Lebedeva Street. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 22, 2016
Side view of military pilot s memorial in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, November 10, 2016
Makeshift fence of Military Commandment from a beach. Kronstadt (part of Saint Petersburg), Russia, February 11, 2013
Navy ship Indigirka in Yuzhnaya Stenka Harbor in military base V/Ch 20862. Oranienbaum (Lomonosov), 20 miles west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 2, 2012
Soviet military ship "Dolphin" in Vladimirskaya Bukhta (harbor) of Ladoga Lake, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Floating lighthouse in Yuzhnaya Stenka Harbor in military base V/Ch 20862. Oranienbaum (Lomonosov), 20 miles west from Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 2, 2012
Military cemetery in a forest in Syarpi near Toksovo, suburb of Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 29, 2013
WWII memorial of military pilots in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 7, 2013
Memorial of military pilots in Sosnovka Park. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 21, 2016
Military memorial on Bogoyavlenskaya Lane in Smolenskoe Cemetery of Vasilievsliy Island. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 27, 2016
Marsh orchids Ochris militaris in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 5, 2017
Old railroad path from Toksovo train station to a military ammunition storage near Kavgolovskoe Lake in Toksovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 14, 2017
Orange club parasitic fungus Cordyceps militaris on roadside in area of Kavgolovskoe Lake near Oselki - Toksovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 9, 2017
Orange club fungus Cordyceps militaris in area of Kavgolovskoe Lake near Oselki - Toksovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 9, 2017
Orange club parasitic fungus Cordyceps militaris lit by flash in area of Kavgolovskoe Lake near Oselki - Toksovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 9, 2017
Battery cells near a site of an old military camp near Lisiy Nos. West from Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 23, 2017
Orange club parasitic fungus Cordyceps militaris near Lisiy Nos. West from Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 26, 2018
Close up of orange club fungus Cordyceps militaris on a pupae near Lisiy Nos. West from Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 26, 2018
Orange club parasitic fungus Cordyceps militaris in area of Kavgolovskoe Lake near Oselki - Toksovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 9, 2017
Orange club fungus Cordyceps militaris on a pupae of a beetle(?) collected from area of Kavgolovskoe Lake near Oselki - Toksovo, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 9, 2017
Orange club fungus Cordyceps militaris on a pupae near Lisiy Nos. West from Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 26, 2018
Old military camp site west from Kannelyarvi, 45 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, August 31, 2018
Military orchid (Orchis militaris) in Peter the Great Botanical Garden of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 3, 2019
Old monument of Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) in front of Stuff Building at Military Base No. 28287 in Morye, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 13, 2021
Old monument of Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) together with Orthodox Church of St. Peter Afonsky and Dutchess Olga at Military Base No. 28287 in Morye, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 13, 2021
Military patriotic poster on Lanskoe Shosse in Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 29, 2024
The stall labeled "Moskva" that honors a favorite horse of Emperor Nicholas I in Pensioner Stable (Pensionnaya Konyushnya) in Alexander Park, Tsarskoe Selo. This horse, a veteran of military reviews like the one in Elisavetgrad, spent its retirement in the stable built by the Emperor for his own and his predecessor s faithful steeds. The nameplate was reinstated during the 2024-2025 restoration of the pavilion. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 21, 2025
A museum exhibit inside the historical Coastal Fort "Reef" The scene reconstructs a Soviet-era military office or command post (likely a clerk s or commander s office) located within one of the fort s fortified casemates. Kronstadt, Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 27, 2025
"Alley of Heroes," a section of the cemetery dedicated to Russian soldiers killed in the war in Ukraine. In the foreground stands a permanent black granite monument featuring a detailed engraving of a soldier in combat gear with the "Z" insignia and a stoic epitaph reading, "Having given everything, I will not rise from the dust... I, having killed the fear within myself, fought". The background reveals rows of additional graves densely adorned with wreaths and flags representing various military branches (including the VDV and Naval Infantry) and private military contractors, illustrating the ongoing scale and diverse composition of the casualties. Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
Blending of religious and patriotic symbolism in the "Alley of Heroes". The foreground monument features a poignant epitaph addressing the deceased ("And you stand before our eyes, Alive... We keep you in our hearts") alongside an elaborate engraving of a soldier ascending a staircase toward a Christ-like figure, framing death as a spiritual journey. In the background, a distinctive broken-heart monument depicts a split image of a bridge at night surrounded by flags from various military branches, including the VDV and Russian Naval Infantry. Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
The expanding scale of the "Alley of Heroes," with construction machinery visible in the left background clearing land for new burial plots, confirming the site s active status. The foreground displays a dense cluster of polished granite monuments flanked by diverse military insignia, including the St. Andrew[CloseCurlyQuote]s flag of the Navy and a unit banner for a Motorized Rifle formation, reflecting the hybrid force structure composed of regular troops, mobilized personnel, and specialized units. Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
The "initial stage" of mass burial, depicting a dense field of fresh earthen mounds marked only by temporary wooden crosses and overwhelmed by a sea of Russian tricolors, Soviet red banners, and VDV flags. The ground is raw and uneven, with a single permanent black granite curb visible in the foreground as the only sign of the eventual transition to formal memorialization. In the background, industrial infrastructure frames the scene, emphasizing the integration of this expanding military necropolis into the everyday civilian landscape of St. Petersburg "Alley of Heroes" at Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
The ideological complexity of the war s memorialization, dominated by a large red Soviet flag flying prominently over fresh graves, invoking nostalgia for the USSR s military power alongside Russian tricolors and VDV (Airborne Forces) banners. In the foreground, the grave of Arkady Vasilyevich Kovalchuk (1974-2024), who died at age 50, exemplifies the demographic trend of older men bearing a significant share of casualties. The scene is one of dense, vibrant mourning, with mounds of artificial flowers covering the raw earth, set against a backdrop of modern commercial buildings that anchor the cemetery in the contemporary urban landscape. "Alley of Heroes" at Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
Revealing the multinational and irregular composition of the Russian forces, featuring the flag of Uzbekistan prominently displayed alongside the black "Assault Troops" banner and the Russian tricolor. In the foreground, the grave of Aleksandr Borisovich Vasiliev (1973-2025), a 52-year-old soldier, is marked by a framed photograph of him in combat gear standing in a field, humanizing the older demographic of recent casualties. The scene captures the raw, crowded nature of the "initial stage" of burial, with fresh earthen mounds and a chaotic mix of personal and military symbols extending into the background. "Alley of Heroes" at Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
The dense visual cacophony of the cemetery s "temporary" section, where rows of wooden crosses are submerged in a sea of Russian tricolors and military intelligence (GRU/Spetsnaz) flags bearing the bat insignia. In the foreground, the grave of Kirill Arkadyevich Sharkov (1975-2025), a 49-year-old casualty, is marked by a simple cross and a photo of him in uniform, surrounded by wreaths in patriotic red, white, and blue colors. The scene conveys the sheer volume of recent losses, with flags fluttering chaotically over uneven mounds of earth, while a tractor in the far left background hints at the ongoing expansion of the burial grounds. "Alley of Heroes" at Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
The grave of Mikhail Ilyich Svyatkin (1986-2025), a 39-year-old soldier whose death in May 2025 aligns with the surge in casualties during the spring and summer of that year. His wooden cross bears a framed photo of him in combat gear holding a rifle, surrounded by wreaths inscribed "From Mother," highlighting the personal grief embedded in the mass loss. The background is crowded with similar fresh graves, flags, and flowers, reinforcing the density and continuity of the burials at this active military cemetery. "Alley of Heroes" at Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
The "initial stage" of memorialization, where fresh earthen graves are crowded with temporary wooden crosses and a profusion of military banners, including the VDV (Airborne Forces) and St. Andrew[CloseCurlyQuote]s Naval flags. The foreground features the grave of Mikhail Ilyich Svyatkin (1986-2025), a 39-year-old casualty, whose cross is adorned with a framed photo of him in uniform, exemplifying the typical profile of recent losses. The scene is saturated with patriotic symbols, including a flag depicting a tank with the slogan "Victory will be ours" and another with the Order of the Great Patriotic War, linking the current conflict to historical narratives of Soviet heroism. "Alley of Heroes" at Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
The diverse visual language of mourning in the "Alley of Heroes," showing a mix of permanent granite monuments and temporary graves decorated with flags, including the Russian Imperial black-yellow-white tricolor and a Soviet red banner. In the foreground, the polished black headstone of Ivan Vladimirovich Semenov (1995-2024) features a color portrait of the 28-year-old soldier, while nearby, two women stand amidst the graves, highlighting the cemetery as an active site of personal grief. The scene captures the juxtaposition of varied ideological symbols--imperial, communist, and modern state--united within the shared space of military sacrifice. Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
The permanent monument of Denis Alekseevich Mikhailov (1983-2024), a 40-year-old soldier whose polished black granite headstone displays a detailed engraving of him in full combat gear, holding a rifle and wearing a parachute badge, alongside a real blue beret left as a personal tribute. The grave is flanked by the blue and yellow flag of the VDV (Airborne Forces) with the motto "Nobody, but us," underscoring his elite unit affiliation, while surrounding graves show a mix of portrait styles and military banners, reflecting the individualized yet collective nature of the memorialization. "Alley of Heroes" at Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
The "permanent stage" of memorialization, featuring a row of polished black granite monuments for soldiers such as Andrey Nikolaevich Atlanov (1977-2024) and Danila Denisovich Shutov (2001-2024), a 23-year-old whose age underscores the ongoing loss of young lives. The monuments display diverse portrait styles--ranging from formal military engravings to casual color photos--and are flanked by flags including the VDV (Airborne Forces) banner with the motto "Nobody, but us," reflecting both individual identity and collective unit pride. The orderly arrangement of these finished graves, complete with granite curbs and gravel, stands in contrast to the chaotic temporary sections seen in other places, illustrating the gradual formalization of the war s toll. "Alley of Heroes" at Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
