140 years ago, on February 17, 1880 (February 5 by the old calendar), another assassination attempt on Emperor Alexander II took place.

Member of the organization "People's Will" Stepan Khalturin got a job as a carpenter in the Winter Palace using forged documents. For about six months, he smuggled approximately 32 kilograms of dynamite into the building.

The plan was for the explosion to destroy the dining room where the emperor was supposed to have lunch, but at the time of the attack, he was in another part of the palace and was unharmed. As a result of the explosion on the lower floor, 11 soldiers of the Finnish Guard Regiment who were on duty that day were killed, and 56 people were injured.

This is what the dining room of the Winter Palace looked like after the explosion. On Tuesday, February 18, at 18:15, a memorial event will take place at the Smolensk Orthodox Cemetery dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the death of the soldiers of the Finnish Regiment who perished as a result of the explosion in the Winter Palace on February 5, 1880, when terrorists attempted to assassinate Emperor Alexander II. This year marks 140 years since this tragic event. Participants will gather at the Finnish monument at the intersection of Finland and Novgorod paths.

There will be a flower laying ceremony at the mass grave and the monument to the fallen soldiers of the Finnish Regiment. A liturgy for the deceased will be held, and there will be official speeches from event participants. We kindly ask you to bring flowers for the laying. Sincerely, the press service of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Imperial Union-Order.