Putin to visit Hogland Island in Gulf of Finland

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to visit Hogland Island in the Gulf of Finland on Monday, July 15, to familiarize himself with the program of underwater research of the Russian Geographical Society, the Kremlin press service reported on Sunday. The president will also meet with members of the Russian Geographical Society’s expedition to the Oleg sailing frigate of the Baltic Fleet that sank between the islands of Hogland and Sommers in 1869, the press service said. The expedition is conducted within the framework of the Russia’s Naval Glory project sponsored by the Russian Geographical Society. The goal of the project is to study Russia’s naval cultural and historical heritage and popularize the history of the Russian Navy. The Russian president is also expected to visit a student archaeological camp of the Russian Geographical Society to speak with members of the Hogland-2013 expedition, a joint project of the Russian Geographical Society and the Institute of History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The expedition’s programs features archaeological, geographical and geological survey to map the island’s historical sites.