ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia's second largest city St. Petersburg on Friday held the annual "900 Days and Nights" memorial event marking the 79th anniversary of the lifting of the Siege of Leningrad during World War II.

Russian honour guards attend a wreath laying ceremony at the Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery in Saint Petersburg on January 27, 2023, on the 79th anniversary of the battle that broke the siege of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) which lasted 900 days and caused more than a million victims. (Photo: AFP)

The commemoration featured an interactive performance held among military installations in the courtyard of the St. Petersburg State Academic Capella, the oldest Russian professional musical institution. The audience watched the light and sound performance of air raids and bombardments.

Newsreel footage of the besieged Leningrad was demonstrated on the facade of the Chapel. Fireworks display was held later in the evening at the Peter and Paul Fortress.

The military siege of Leningrad lasted nearly 900 days, from Sept. 8, 1941 to Jan. 27, 1944. The Battle of Leningrad went down in history as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War II.