A renowned ice rink right in the heart of Moscow's Red Square is warming the hearts of visitors on the cold winter nights as it officially opens for a new season.
The GUM ice rink -- which will be open through March 1 -- is now entering its landmark 20th year of operations, with the site becoming a hugely popular addition to the festive period in the Russian capital.
To mark this milestone year, Olympic champion Tatyana Navka -- who won ice dancing gold at the 2006 Turin Winter Games -- delighted the crowds by joining the performance crew to deliver scenes from the fairytale Cinderella.
Two-thirds of the famous Red Square has now been transformed into a vibrant holiday marketplace, with millions of lights, breathtaking views of the Kremlin, the scent of tangerines and fir branches in the air, and the hustle and bustle of the holiday market creating a joyful experience for visitors.
"There is a wonderful New Year atmosphere, we really like it, everything is very tasty, the people are pleasant and positive," said one visitor.
The rink stretches from the Nikolskaya Tower all the way along the GUM department store. This year, the design of the rink is especially bright -- styled after the traditional Dymkovo toy, the famous clay souvenir easily recognized for its white background and geometric patterns.
Dozens of themed and festive events are planned to turn the Moscow winter into a real-life fairytale, with this being the most eagerly awaited time of year for many.
"If it were 20 years ago, such a scene would have seemed like an unattainable fantasy, while now it feels very familiar and dear to us -- something we simply can't imagine being without," said Mikhail Kusnirovich, a local entrepreneur.
While former Olympic stars and seasoned performers took to the ice, many newbies also came out to learn the ropes.
"Today was my first time on the ice, but I think I'm already doing well. I'll probably even sign up for figure skating lessons," said another visitor.
Vladislav Tretyak, a three-time Olympic ice hockey champion, said professionals will be on hand to help young people become masters of the ice, with this famous ice rink helping to inspire the next generation of Olympic champions.
"It's from rinks like these that [ice hockey champions like] Tretyaks, Kharlamovs, and Ovechkins all come -- we all started out in places like this," he said.
Renowned ice rink in Moscow's Red Square officially opens for winter
Iran poignantly marked the Persian Gulf National Day on Thursday with a series of commemorative events as Iranian officials stressed the country firmly opposes any actions that threaten the security of the region.
The Persian Gulf National Day is observed on the 10th day of Ordibehesht, the second month in the Iranian calendar, which this year landed on April 30.
The occasion celebrates the anniversary of Iran's 17th century reclamation of the Strait of Hormuz -- a key waterway for global trade which has become a focal point in recent weeks amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran -- with the event marking the end of Portugal's 115-year occupation of the Persian Gulf in 1622.
Among the many events was a concert entitled "That Persian Blue," delivered by the National Music Orchestra in Tehran, a pointed performance which underscored Iran's tradition of safeguarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway and resisting foreign intervention.
Officials attending the concert said the Persian Gulf is a vital corridor of Iranian civilization and a crucial avenue for trade and security. They condemned the military interventions by external forces which have caused chaos and instability in the region and stressed Iran's resolve to oppose any attempts to undermine its national security and that of the wider Gulf region.
"If there is any enlightenment that all the recent events have brought to this region, it is that countries in this region have the ability to maintain the security of the Persian Gulf, and only the people in the region have the right to maintain regional security -- no one else can do it," said Mohsen Haji-Mirzaei, the chief of staff for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
"The Iranian people have always been ready to resist invaders and any external invading forces. They trample on humanity, attack Iran, and undermine peace and friendship. The Iranian people will confront these forces with authority and unity," said the Deputy Minister of Culture for Media Affairs Mohammadreza Norouzpour.
President Pezeshkian also issued a defiant message on the same day, saying that the presence and interference of foreign forces in the region has only served to worsen tensions and undermine lasting peace, rather than improving security in the Persian Gulf.
He said that Iran, as a guardian of the Strait of Hormuz, will continue to uphold the principles of the freedom of navigation and maritime safety, except for hostile states.
Pezeshkian also stressed these principles must be based on respecting Iran's national sovereignty, adding that any insecurity in the waters should be blamed on the United States and Israel.
Iran poignantly marks Persian Gulf National Day with defiant call to resist foreign interference
