1987 Matthias Rust's flight to Moscow

Thirty years ago, on May 28, 1987, a Cessna-172 Skyhawk sports plane of German citizen Matthias Rust landed on Vasilyevsky Spusk near St. Basil's Cathedral. He easily overcame more than 1000 km, without encountering any opposition from the Soviet air defense. Soon, Defense Minister Sergei Sokolov and Commander-in-Chief of the country's air defense forces Alexander Koldunov were removed from their posts. In total, 34 generals and officers were brought to justice. Rust was charged with hooliganism and illegal crossing of the state border and sentenced to 4 years in prison. After spending 432 days in prison, he was granted amnesty in August 1988.