About 6,000 Swedish warriors were killed in the Battle of Poltava – the bloodiest battle in the Swedish-Russian wars. Their remains were hurriedly buried in numerous marshy gullies close to the places where they happened to be found. Some of the captured Swedish army chaplains were permitted to say a requiem mass over the last resting place of their comrades. In 1909 the Government of the Russian Empire decided to erect a a monument to the fallen Swedish warriors as a sign of recognition of their military valour and courage. It was unveiled on June 27th 1909 on the site where the right flank of the Swedish Army had been positioned. The monument was created in the form of truncated granite pyramid crowned with a cross. A bronze plate bears the following inscription: “Let the brave Swedish warriors who perished in the Battle of Poltava on June 27th 1909 be remembered forever”. The monument is surrounded by cast-iron pillars connected with a chain. This early picture of the monument was taken soon after its unveiling and published in the “Ogonek” magazine.