01 February 2013, 19:00
On war memory dates Volgograd will be Stalingrad
The Volgograd City Duma has decided that on the days, dedicated to military history and related defence of the city during World War II, the name of the city will be "Hero City of Stalingrad".
As explained by Sergey Zabednov, a City Duma Deputy, the document that has approved the new temporary name as a symbol of Volgograd, was adopted following the appeals of war veterans.
"We'll be able to officially use the symbolic name in our speeches, reports, and in the course of mass events," the "Regional News" quotes the local MP as saying.
For the first time the city will bear its old new name Stalingrad at all city events on February 2 – the day of the defeat of Nazi troops in the Battle of Stalingrad, the ITAR-TASS reports.
The decision has caused a mixed reaction of local residents and experts.
