July 9 declared Day of Mourning in Russia
President Vladimir Putin has declared July 9 a day of mourning in Russia for the victims of a bus crash in Ukraine and devastating floods in the southern Krasnodar Region that killed at least 164 Russian nationals.
In accordance with the Executive Order issued by the Russian President, state flags in Russia and in its overseas missions will be flown half-mast on July 9. Cultural institutions and state-owned TV channels have been advised to refrain from showing entertaining programs.
Russia's worst flood ravaged several cities and residential areas in the southern Krasnodar Region on Friday night, killing at least 170 people. The sudden flood drove away numerous homes, cars, trees and dogs chained in backyards. The flood has disrupted power, gas and water supply lines, automobile and rail communication.
In another accident, fourteen people were killed after a bus carrying 43 pilgrims from Russia's Pskov Region to Ukraine's Pochayiv Lavra (large monastery) in the Chernigov province in northern Ukraine swerved off the road on Saturday and crashed into a ditch.
