Russia remembers Leningrad siege

1 of 7 Russia is marking the 60th anniversary of the lifting of the 900-day siege of Leningrad in World War II.

2 of 7 Leningraders endured bombardment, cold and hunger. Many starved to death. In all, more than half a million died.

3 of 7 An elderly woman stands in front of a giant memorial poster in the city, now known again as St Petersburg.

4 of 7 Survivor Maya Rudnitskaya holds a girl and a boy doll, Ira and Yura, that she said helped her through the siege.

5 of 7 To mark the anniversary, a light show symbolising air defence searchlights has been erected in Palace Square.

6 of 7 The light show has been enjoyed by large numbers of Petersburgers, despite the snow.

7 of 7 An honour guard at a commemorative ceremony carried torches brought from other "hero cities" of the USSR.