The municipal authorities in Artyom, located in Primorsky Territory, have initiated a verification process related to burials on the graves of military pilots. A representative from the city district administration indicated that a plan was approved to install a shared monument commemorating the airmen, signaling an effort to create a unified tribute rather than several scattered markers. This decision appears to reflect a broader objective of honoring the crew and recognizing their service in a single, central installation that would serve as a focal point for remembrance within the community.
Earlier, a regional public organization based in Primorye known as AviaPoisk, which operates under the umbrella of the Search Association, announced findings concerning the burial sites above the remains of the Tu-14T torpedo bomber crew. The incident dates back to December 3, 1954, when the crew was reportedly shot down by their own fighters in the vicinity of Baldy Dede Mountain. The organization shared photographs via its Telegram channel that show remnants of a fence and a monument dedicated to one member of the Tu-14T crew, suggesting that some memorial infrastructure persisted despite the passage of time and harsh weather conditions. These visual records have prompted further examination of the site and the historical context surrounding the incident.
According to footage released by AviaPoisk, another grave associated with a different crew member has been identified nearby. For the moment, there is no visible monument at that second location, and local records note that two individuals were interred in 2015 and 2020, respectively. In response to these discoveries, the Primorye regional prosecutor’s office has opened a formal check to assess the accuracy of the information received and to determine whether additional memorialization is warranted in accordance with regional heritage preservation guidelines and veterans’ commemorative practices.
Representatives from AviaPoisk clarified that the precise site for the proposed joint monument has not been finalized. The organization also explained that a fire event in the late 1950s destroyed many wooden and several metal memorials within the Knevichansky cemetery, which complicates efforts to delineate the exact boundaries of the pilots’ burials. Within this context, the plan to install a single, consolidated memorial plaque bearing the names of those who perished is regarded as the most suitable approach to ensure clear recognition, aid in maintenance, and provide a respectful, unifying symbol for families, veterans, and visitors alike.
In related news, there are accounts suggesting that former Russian Embassy staff who visited other memorial sites described obstacles encountered during personal trips to Alaska’s Memorial Cemetery, illustrating the broader challenges that might accompany international or cross-regional memorial work and the importance of careful coordination when dealing with historic gravesites and archival records. The overarching aim remains to establish a dignified, well-documented tribute that preserves historical memory while accommodating the practical realities of the site and its long-term upkeep.