On February 20^th, 2017 the Oak Hall of Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University saw meeting of the veterans of the Armed Forces with the students as part of Defender of the Fatherland Day Celebration.

The meeting was opened with a welcome speech by Professor Petr Rybin, Vice-Rector for Pedagogical Work and Industry Relations. In his speech, he congratulated everyone with the Holiday and thanked those who stood and are now standing for the Motherland.

Professor of the Department of History, Philosophy, Political Theory and Sociology, Major General Viktorin Yarobkov enlightened the attendees about the history of the Holiday, underlined a big importance of railway troops during wars, especially during the Great Patriotic War, and noted strengthening and increasing of Russian Army’s weight and prestige over the last years.

PGUPS Board of Veterans’ Chairman, Professor Petr Makhonko reminded everyone about the commitment PGUPS students and professors into the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

After a moment of silence, announced in honour of professors and students of LIIGT (former name of PGUPS) who had given their lives in the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, the laying of wreaths in the Memorial garden square took place.

Protopriest Nikolai (Shorokhov) congratulated everyone with the Holiday and wished a long life to the Defenders.

After the welcome speeches, the concert took place in which the members of art communities took part. Among them there were the vocal studio «Soul Jazz», «Prima», the ensemble «Kantus», the dance studio «Yuniona» and the theatre group «Miniature Plus».