Russarö is an island south of Hanko. The island is closed to the public as it is military area of the Finnish Defence Forces. The island hosts the five-storey Russarö Lighthouse built in 1863[1] [2] and a Finnish Meteorological Institute weather station.[3]
On 1 December 1939, the Soviet light cruiser, accompanied by the destroyers and, approached the fortified coastal artillery battery located on the island. After a short exchange of fire, Stremitelny and Kirov were hit and the ships withdrew. Aboard the Kirov, 17 men were killed and 30 wounded.