Russarö is an island south of Hanko. The island is closed to the public as it is military area of the Finnish Defence Forces. The island hosts the five-storey Russarö Lighthouse built in 1863[1][2] and a Finnish Meteorological Institute weather station.[3]

The Finnish 234 mm Coastal artillery in Russarö during the military exercise in the 1930s.

December 1939

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On 1 December 1939, the Soviet light cruiser Kirov, accompanied by the destroyers Stremitelny and Smetlivy, approached the fortified coastal artillery battery located on the island. After a short exchange of fire, Stremitelny and Kirov were hit and the ships withdrew. Aboard the Kirov, 17 men were killed and 30 wounded.

References

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59°46′19″N 22°56′50″E / 59.77194°N 22.94722°E / 59.77194; 22.94722