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Prime Minister Vladimir Putin lays a bouquet of red roses at the monument to paratroopers of the Pskov airborne division who lost their lives in battle in the mountains of Chechnya in 2000

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Almost the entire 6^th company – 84 men, including 13 officers – perished holding off an onslaught of more than 2,000 commandos in the Battle for Height 776 near the village of Ulus-Kert in the Argun Gorge in the small hours of March 1, 2000. The company belonged to the 76^th Guards Airborne Division from Pskov. About 500 commandos were killed during the battle. This is one of the most well-known engagements of the Second Chechen War. Only one of the 22 paratroopers who received the title Hero of Russia survived; 69 officers and men were awarded the Order of Courage for their efforts in this battle, 63 posthumously.

Pursuant to the decree of the Russian president of July 21, 2000, a monument was built in Pskov (unveiled August 1, 2002) in honour of the fallen. Vladimir Putin took part in the ceremonial laying of the monument’s cornerstone.