Several dozen swimmers from Europe and Belarus are crossing the Berezina River on 23 November. They are re-enacting Napoleon's crossing of the Berezina in November 1812. Back then, during the retreat after the invasion of Russia, Napoleon's engineers braved ferociously cold water to construct vital bridges across the Berezina River. Nearly all of the engineers died of exposure. Their heroic stand saved most of the French troops. The emperor and the troops capable of fighting were able to cross the river and continued their retreat to Vilnius.
Photos by Ramil Nasibulin