SEVASTOPOL, August 19. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday visited the Malakhov Kurgan memorial complex in Crimea to pay tribute to those who defended Sevastopol in the Crimean and Great Patriotic Wars.

Putin and Medvedev laid flowers at the Eternal Flame of Glory on the square in front of the defensive tower. They visited the tower which houses an exposition of the national museum of the heroic defence and liberation of Sevastopol.

The museum has more than 200 exhibits devoted to the defence of Sevastopol back in 1854-1855 and 1941-1942, said a museum official, Irina Ostrovskaya.

Putin and Medvedev were also shown the military uniform of the soldiers and household items of the Russian army, as well as portraits and lithography of that time. A small part of the exposition was dedicated to the defence of Sevastopol during the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet campaign against Nazi Germany.

After visiting the museum, the guests were presented albums about Sevastopol.

The Russian president wrote in a book of guests of honor: "Malakhov Kurgan is a heroic history of the Motherland, this is the glory and the pride of Russia. Thank you for preserving this cherished historic memory."

Putin later talked to people who greeted him and shook hands with some of them, asking them how they spend their vacation in Crimea. He heard the words of thanks, including "for Sevastopol."

At the request of one of the women, the Russian leader agreed to pose for a photo with a little girl whom he took in his arms and also with her brother.