Volochayevsk Days Festival Revives a Legendary 1920 Russian Civil War Battle

The interregional military-historical festival Volochayevsk Days will take place on February 7, 2023. The event marks the 104th anniversary of the Battle of Volochayevka, a decisive clash in the Russian Civil War. Organisers expect around 5,000 visitors to attend the celebrations near Khabarovsk.

The festival will centre on a large-scale reenactment of the 1920 Battle of Volochayevka. In the original conflict, the Red Army's 5th Yakovlev Rifle Division, alongside the Far Eastern Republic's forces, defeated the White Russian troops under Vladimir Kappel and Sergei Voitsekhovsky. The victory paved the way for the Bolsheviks to capture Vladivostok three months later.

Visitors can explore interactive exhibits, including historical uniforms and weapon replicas. Workshops will offer hands-on experiences, while a field kitchen serves tea and soldiers' porridge to keep guests warm. A history quiz will also let attendees earn the festival's special 'currency'.

To accommodate the crowds, an electric train from Volochayevka-1 to Khabarovsk will depart at 3:15 p.m., three hours earlier than usual. Military-history clubs from six regions—Khabarovsk, Primorsky Krai, Amur Oblast, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Saratov Oblast, and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)—will take part in the event. The festival has been organised by enthusiasts who have reconstructed these historical battles for eight years.

The festival will bring together reenactors, historians, and spectators to commemorate a key moment in the Russian history. With workshops, exhibits, and a full-scale battle reenactment, the event aims to engage visitors in the region's military history.