Dhaka, Nov. 23 -- Keel-laying ceremony of the 6th universal nuclear-powered icebreaker Stalingrad under the project 22220 has begun in Baltic Shipyard of St. Petersburg, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin took part via videoconference in the ceremony.

The ceremony took place on the eve of November 19, 1942, when the then Soviet counteroffensive began near Stalingrad, codenamed Operation Uranus, which changed history forever.

Vladimir Putin, in his speech, said: "The tasks before us are, without exaggeration, historic. It is important to consistently strengthen Russia's position in the Arctic, fully realize our country's logistics potential, and ensure the development of a promising Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor from St. Petersbu...