A memorial ceremony marking the Day of the Unknown Soldier was held in the Icelandic capital, where representatives of the Russian Embassy, local compatriots, and parishioners of the St. Nicholas Parish of the Moscow Patriarchate gathered to honor servicemen who died during the Arctic Convoys of World War II.

Flowers were laid at the military section of Fossvogur Cemetery, the resting place of Allied sailors who took part in the perilous Polar Convoys, RIA Novosti reported. The focal point of the commemoration was the “Hope” memorial dedicated to the men who perished escorting the Arctic supply routes.

Participants also paid tribute to Soviet sailor A. Mallei and World War II veteran M. A. Mitrofanova, both buried in Iceland.

Father Timofey Zolotusky, rector of the St. Nicholas Parish, led a memorial litia for the fallen, offering prayers in Church Slavonic, English, and Icelandic.

“We remember those who gave their lives for others, for faith, and for peace. Their sacrifice unites people from different nations and reminds us of the price humanity paid for victory,” the priest said.

Between 1941 and 1945, Arctic Convoys passing through Iceland delivered vital Allied weapons and equipment to the Soviet Union. The routes were among the most dangerous of the war, exposed to aircraft and submarine attacks and harsh Arctic conditions. Iceland continues to honor the memory of the sailors who undertook these missions, including those buried far from their homeland.