Presidential Library to host presentation of Sergey Rats' book "The Fiery Frontiers of Leningrad"

On 19 November 2025, at 16:00 Moscow time, at the Presidential Library, Sergey Vasilyevich Rats, historian of special services, candidate of political sciences, member of the Russian Writers' Union, and president of the Foundation for the Support of Reserve State Security Officers, Sergei Vasilyevich Rats, will present his book "The Fiery Frontiers of Leningrad," dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The publication is based on archival documents, memoirs of NKVD veterans, and scientific research.

The book tells the story of the heroic deeds of the NKVD divisions, which became the last line of defence for Leningrad in the autumn of 1941 and managed to stop the enemy on the most important fronts: Pulkovo, Avtovo, Moskovskaya Dubrovka (Nevsky Pyatachok), Shlisselburg, and the right bank of the Neva River. Most of the archival materials presented in the book are being published for the first time.

The presentation will take place as part of the Knowledge of Russia video lecture series and will continue the cycle of lectures devoted to the history of our country's state security agencies.

In lectures on the history of state security agencies, students learn about outstanding employees, the most striking, interesting and significant operations and events in the history of Russian special services, and the main areas of activity of the special services.

The event will take place at Saint-Petersburg, Senate Square, 3.

Please confirm personal presence by phone (812) 305-16-21 (ext. 262) or email druzhevsky@prlib.ru to Anton Olegovich Druzhevsky by 12:00 on March 3.

The event is available for everyone. The meeting will be broadcasted on the Presidential Library’s portal in Live Broadcasts section, as well as on the Rutube-channel of the Library, on the social networks VKontakte and Odnoklassniki.

Accreditation of media representatives is until 14:00 November 18, 2025

Please forward applications for accreditation following the attached form marked Media Accreditation at media@prlib.ru, dyatko@prlib.ru Olga Dyatko, tel.: (812) 305-16-21, ext. 190; mob. +7 (900) 658-48-32.

The letter should contain the full name, date and place of birth, passport data (series, number, place of registration), a list of carry-on equipment, contact phone numbers, the name of the media.

We draw the attention of the media representatives that it is necessary to forward applications for accreditation and arrive at the event in advance.

Entrance to the Presidential Library is carried out only by prior registration and upon showing a passport: for media representatives - through entrance № 2.