In Photos: Russia Celebrates Peter the Great's 350th Birthday
Russia celebrated the 350th birthday of Peter the Great, one of its most famous tsars, on Thursday.
Celebrations were held in Peter's namesake city St. Petersburg and Moscow to mark the anniversary of his birth on June 9, 1672.
A pivotal figure in the country's history, Peter led efforts to modernize Russia, expand its territory and bring it closer to the West.
But over three centuries after his birth, Russia appears more isolated from the Western world than at almost any other time due to its invasion of Ukraine — and the "window to Europe" that Peter sought to open is now all but closed.
Here's a look at some of the birthday celebrations that took place:
Celebrations were held in Peter's namesake city St. Petersburg and Moscow to mark the anniversary of his birth on June 9, 1672.
A pivotal figure in the country's history, Peter led efforts to modernize Russia, expand its territory and bring it closer to the West.
But over three centuries after his birth, Russia appears more isolated from the Western world than at almost any other time due to its invasion of Ukraine — and the "window to Europe" that Peter sought to open is now all but closed.
Here's a look at some of the birthday celebrations that took place:
President Vladimir Putin visits the "Peter the Great: The Birth of the Empire" exhibition in the "Russia — My History" park at Moscow's VDNKh exhibition center.
kremlin.ru
Putin sparked controversy by saying present-day Russia is simply "taking back" what belongs to it, comparing the country's current actions to Peter the Great's conquest of the Baltic coast during his 18th-century war against Sweden.
kremlin.ru
With ties between Russia and the West shattered by Moscow's war in Ukraine, authorities are downplaying Peter's affinity for Europe, instead focusing on his role in expanding Russian territories and consolidating state power.
kremlin.ru
The "Peter the Great: The Birth of the Empire" exhibition in the "Russia — My History" park at VDNKh.
Alexander Avilov / Moskva News Agency
The "Peter the Great: The Birth of the Empire" exhibition in the "Russia — My History" park at VDNKh.
Alexander Avilov / Moskva News Agency
The "History for the Future: The Image of Peter" forum at the "Russia — My History" park at VDNKh.
Sergei Kiselev / Moskva News Agency
The "Peter the Great: The Mustache of the Sovereign" exhibition at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
Andrei Nikerichev / Moskva News Agency
The "Peter the Great: The Mustache of the Sovereign" exhibition at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
Andrei Nikerichev / Moskva News Agency
The "Peter the Great: The Mustache of the Sovereign" exhibition at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
Andrei Nikerichev / Moskva News Agency
The Moscow Metro launched a special train dedicated to Peter the Great's 350th birthday.
Moskva News Agency
The train's interior features portraits of Peter and his contemporaries.
Moskva News Agency
Actors in historical garb helped inaugurate the train.
Moskva News Agency
