A monument above the common graves of the Russian warriors killed in the Battle of Poltava was dedicated on June 27, 1895. This monument, which consisted of a heavy granite cross, soon started to sink into the burial mound.
  In 1906 the decision was made to open the burial mound, reinforce the foundation of the memorial, and build an inner chapel with a spherical vault, based on a design by the architect Nosov. While construction was under way a few photographs were taken, which were later discovered in the War Archives in Stockholm. These photos show that the grave chapel had a small window and a north-facing entrance. It contained a few marble plaques listing the Russian regiments that participated in the Battle of Poltava and showing their colours and laurel wreaths. The inner walls and the vault were painted by the artist Sokol.
  The chapel, named St. Peter and Paul Chapel in honour of the apostles, was consecrated to God on September 3, 1907. In the 1930s a pig-breeding research institute was established near the common graves, and the grave chapel was turned into a storage facility for fuel and chemicals by the institute’s director. This resulted in the destruction of the ventilation system and all of the wall paintings. The walls themselves began to disintegrate because of the dampness and chemical fumes.
  Although the chapel was repaired several times after WWII, its unique interior has been lost forever. For a period of time the chapel was turned into a simple, somber memorial hall, with a grave stone its only decoration. Today the chapel is closed to visitors.