Russia will pay tributes to Biju Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: Russia has decided to pay tributes to towering leader Biju Patnaik for his valiant role in aiding Soviet Red Army in the Battle of Stalingrad against Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

In order to commemorate Biju Patnaik’s contributions to Stalingrad operation, Russian Ambassador in India has invited ex-Odisha CM and Biju’s son Naveen Patnaik, to attend the 80th anniversary of the Great War of Independence as Guest of Honour at the Russian Embassy in Delhi.

In a letter to Naveen Patnaik, the Russian Ambassador said, “It is with great honour and utmost pleasure that I extend a cordial invitation to you to the Reception on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War on May 9, 2025 at the Russian Embassy in New Delhi. “

“In this solemn moment of pride, grief and unwavering remembrance, we honour those who stood together against Nazism in anti-Hitler coalition and commemorate the heroic deeds of the people of the former Soviet Union and its allies who bore the brunt of the most brutal conflict in human history.,” it added.

The letter further said, among the heroes who we pay tribute to is your late father, Honorable Shri Biju Patnaik ji, a towering personality and a valiant pilot of the Indian National Airways who had participated in the Stalingrad Operation supplying weapons to the besieged Red Army. In 1995, Russia decorated Shri Biju Patnaik with the jubilee medal “50th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945” for his feat of bravery and courage.