A: Hey, Yuki! What's up?
B: Oh, Hi Taro! Just chilling. You have some news?

A: Yeah, so there was this ceremony in Russia, remember Shumshu Island?
B: Can't say I do... it's somewhere in the Russian Far East right?

A: Exactly! So, 80 years ago, Soviet soldiers landed on that island, just days after Japan surrendered.
B: Wait, they were fighting with Japanese soldiers there?

A: Yeah, and it was really intense! Both sides had a lot of casualties.
B: Wow, sounds like a tough battle...

A: So, during the ceremony, a Russian official compared that landing operation to their current invasion of Ukraine.
B: That's heavy... do you think they were trying to make a point?

A: Definitely! He said the soldiers in both situations are doing the same heroic deeds and that Russia always wins, even after 80 years.
B: Hmmm... I don't know if I agree with that, but it's their opinion.

A: More than 150 history enthusiasts dressed up as soldiers from both sides and re-enacted the landing operation!
B: That's cool! They even buried the remains of seven Soviet soldiers found recently.

A: And there's a new open-air museum there with statues of soldiers and abandoned Japanese tanks on display!
B: Sounds like an interesting place to visit... if things ever get back to normal, that is.
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Russia has held a ceremony to commemorate a victory by former Soviet Union troops over the now-defunct Imperial Japanese military 80 years ago.



The ceremony took place on Monday on Shumshu Island, which lies off the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East.



Soviet troops began to land on the island on August 18, 1945, days after Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration to clearly express its intention to surrender.



Fierce fighting erupted between the Soviet forces and Japanese soldiers who were disarming themselves. Both sides suffered many fatalities.



In the ceremony, the Kremlin's First Deputy Chief of Staff Sergei Kiriyenko compared the landing operation 80 years ago to the current Russian invasion of Ukraine.



He said that those taking part in the current operation are performing exactly the same feats. He added that 80 years ago and now, victory is always Russia's.



More than 150 amateur historians dressed as Soviet and Japanese soldiers re-enacted the landing operation.



Participants also attended a ceremony to bury the remains of seven Soviet soldiers that were recently unearthed.



Statues of soldiers who took part in the landing operation and abandoned Japanese tanks are on display at a new open-air museum.
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Quiz 1:
Where did the ceremony commemorating a victory by former Soviet Union troops take place?
A. Crimea
B. Kamchatka Peninsula (Correct Answer)
C. Siberia
D. Moscow

Quiz 2:
What event did Soviet troops begin to land on Shumshu Island days after?
A. World War II
B. The Korean War
C. The Potsdam Declaration (Correct Answer)
D. The Cold War

Quiz 3:
Which of the following is NOT true about the ceremony on Shumshu Island?
A. More than 150 amateur historians dressed as Soviet and Japanese soldiers re-enacted the landing operation. (Correct Answer)
B. Fierce fighting erupted between Soviet forces and Japanese soldiers.
C. Participants attended a ceremony to bury the remains of seven Soviet soldiers that were recently unearthed.
D. Statues of soldiers who took part in the landing operation and abandoned Japanese tanks are on display at a new open-air museum.