The participants of the Ecology – Everyone's Business award held a concert under the windows of a veteran

On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in Moscow, participants and organizers of the International Children's and Youth Award "Ecology is everyone's Business" held a congratulatory flash mob for a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, said Svetlana Radionova, head of Rosprirodnadzor. Young environmentalists, their parents and the award team arranged a musical gift under the windows of Nikolai Vasilyevich Morozov, a participant in the Great Patriotic War, a sailor, and a graduate of the legendary Solovetsky Junior High School, who will turn 97 in May. Since the beginning of the war, fifth-grader Kolya had to sharpen 76-millimeter artillery shells for the defense of Moscow. Then he took sniper courses by trickery and made his way to the front as a boy – he served on a patrol boat of the Northern Fleet. He completed his first combat mission at the age of 14. The concert for the veteran took place as part of the first All-Russian action "Toy to the Veteran", which was attended by more than 1,000 children and adults from all over Russia, who sent handmade teddy bears and greeting cards to the award by May 9th.

According to the Head of Rosprirodnadzor Svetlana Radionova, the response received from the participants of the action "Toy to the veteran" inspired the team of the International Prize "Ecology is everyone's business" to organize a special greeting to the veteran on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. Veteran Nikolai Vasilyevich Morozov's favorite songs were performed right in his courtyard by the Moscow Youth Chamber Orchestra conducted by Professor Valery Vorony and Valentin Khmelev, soloist of the A.A. Yurlov State Academic Choral Chapel of Russia, winner of national and international competitions, participant of the Voice show. Famous songs of the war years and touching congratulations on the upcoming Victory anniversary sounded under the windows of the veteran.

"Every year there are fewer and fewer of those who courageously fought for their homeland. And that's why today, together with the children, we say thank you to our victorious heroes for their feat, we give them the joy of communication. I am proud that the participants of the Ecology is Everyone's Business award were happy to join the concert, were able to personally thank the veteran and congratulate him on the upcoming Victory Day. Nikolai Vasilyevich Morozov is a legend of our city. He made a huge contribution not only to the Victory, but also to preserving the memory of the war heroes. He has been serving the Eternal Flame since its lighting in 1967. I hope the positive emotions from meeting with children and youth will remain in the veteran's heart for a long time," said Svetlana Radionova, head of Rosprirodnadzor.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Morozov greeted the guests in full dress, in a tunic and with a military bearing. On his chest are the medal "For the Defense of the Soviet Arctic" and the Ushakov medal, the Order of the Patriotic War II degree and numerous commemorative awards. The veteran will turn 97 in May, but despite his advanced age, the veteran clearly remembers every day of the Great Patriotic War. When the war started, he had only graduated from the fifth grade. And in 1942, he tricked his way to the front: he saw off his brother at the train station and jumped on the departing train. So he was taken as a pupil on a patrol boat to guard the water area of the main base of the Northern Fleet in Polyarnoye. He went on his first combat mission in 1943, when he was only 14 years old.

The impromptu concert for the veteran became a real celebration in the courtyard. "Katyusha", "Darkie", "Victory Day" – Nikolai Vasilyevich sang along with pleasure, he remembers all the words by heart. The veteran thanked the musicians and young environmentalists for the warm welcome, for the gifts and for the memory that the new generations keep about their ancestors and about all the heroes of the Great Patriotic War.

The international Ecology is Everyone's Business Award was established by Rosprirodnadzor on March 31, 2021 and is awarded annually for interesting ideas, initiatives and projects dedicated to environmental conservation. The project involves children and adults from all five continents – from 78 countries, including all regions of Russia. Accepting applications for the fifth anniversary season of the Award on the website www.экологияделокаждого .The Russian Federation ended on April 1, 2025.