The Archive · 1940

Soviet Communique

Moscow, Feb. 20.

Russian troops pounding at the Mannerheim Line were approaching the suburbs of Viipuri, Finland's second most important city, and not only isolated Kiovisto Island, anchor base of the fortifications, but had captured new positions along the coastal railway, the Red Army claimed today.

"The Soviet offensive in the Karelia &rea is developing successfully and Russian troops continued clearing the Bjorke fortified area and have occupied Rionsaari Island, three kilometres west of the town of Juhannes, and Revonsaari Island, five kilometres south-west of Juhannes," the official communique said.

Red Army forces also occupy "Lahteenmaki and Humoljoki stations on the coastal railway, the rommunique added. "Otherwise there were no important changes. Russian planes raided the enemy and bombed military objectives. Fourteen enemy planes were shot down,"—United Press.

Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.

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