The commemorative event was dedicated to the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for their homeland during World War I and other historical periods. 

The ceremony was attended by Russian Ambassador to Egypt Georgiy Borisenko, embassy staff, military attaché officers, and their families.

A wreath-laying ceremony on the graves of Russian sailors in Port-Said

The Russian battleship Peresvet was a pre-dreadnought battleship built for the Imperial Russian Navy in the late 19th century.

Named after Alexander Peresvet, a Russian monk who fought at the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380, the ship was designed for long-range operations. Its emphasis was on speed and endurance rather than heavy armament and armour.

Russian embassy staff, military attaché officers, and their families at the wreath-laying ceremony on the graves of Russian sailors

Commissioned in 1901, Peresvet was assigned to the Russian Pacific Squadron and based at Port Arthur.

During the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), it participated in several naval engagements, including the Battle of Port Arthur and the Battle of the Yellow Sea, sustaining significant damage.

After the fall of Port Arthur, the Japanese salvaged and repaired the ship, commissioning it into the Imperial Japanese Navy as Sagami.

Russian ambassador Georgiy Borisenko with embassy staff, military attaché officers, and their families at the wreath-laying ceremony

In 1916, amid World War I, Japan sold Sagami back to Russia, where it resumed its original name, Peresvet.

The Russian Navy intended to deploy it with the Arctic flotilla. However, on 4 January 1917, while en route near Port Said, Egypt, Peresvet struck two mines laid by the German submarine U-73.

The explosions caused severe damage, leading to a fire and subsequent sinking of the vessel, resulting in the loss of approximately 167 crew members.

The sailors who perished in this incident were laid to rest in Port Said.

Their graves have been maintained over the years, with Russian officials and naval personnel periodically visiting to pay their respects.

The Port Said War Memorial Cemetery, located on the western outskirts of the town between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Manzala, contains numerous war graves, including those of the Peresvet sailors.

Commemorative ceremonies, such as the one held on 4 January, honour the memory of those sailors and underscore the historical ties between Russia and Egypt.

These events reflect a tradition of remembrance for those who have sacrificed their lives in military service, fostering a sense of shared history and respect between nations.