At the Scarlet Sails graduation festival in St. Petersburg, organizers showed school graduates a video message from a Russian soldier fighting in Ukraine, state news agency RIA Novosti reported. The recording was made "in the zone of the special military operation," the agency said. The soldier shown addressing graduates was Nikita Schmidt, whom RIA Novosti called a Hero of Russia.
According to the outlet Sota, Schmidt has been fighting since 2023. The same source reported that he received his first medal for personally killing seven Ukrainians. Citing Schmidt's own words, the outlet said that under his command more than 100 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed.
Additionally, as Astra reported, actors Nika Zdorik and Sergei Gorodnichy from the pro-war series "Lilies of the Valley" performed on stage. Zdorik spoke about the importance of "defending the country" and noted that "for the future and love" state security is necessary, thanking combat participants.
Because of the Scarlet Sails festival, authorities closed Nevsky Prospekt and banned retail alcohol sales, according to the outlet Bumaga. The ban will end on the morning of June 29 and does not apply to catering establishments.