YEKATERINBURG, February 11. /TASS/. Weapon makers from the Urals city of Zlatoust have started forging unique swords ahead of the 70th anniversary of World War II victory, the manufacturers' chief said on Wednesday.

The swords will feature the Soviet Union's coat of arms and portraits of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Emperor Peter the Great, medieval princes Yuri Dolgoruky and Alexander Nevsky, Marshal Georgy Zhukov and other prominent Russian military commanders, the firm's head, Alexander Sonich, told TASS.

Each five-kilogramme sword will be decorated "with semi-precious stones: red garnets symbolising blood and blue chrysolites symbolising peace and clear skies", Sonich said.

Alexander Nevsky's proverbial phrase, "Whoever will come to us with a sword, from a sword will perish," will be inscribed on each weapon, he added, noting that the swords would be sent to the museums of Russian hero cities.

Zlatoust weapon makers also plan to mint commemorative coins ahead of the Victory Day celebrations. One of the coins may be sent to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.