The Russian embassy in Washington announced that the US authorities have again refused to allow Russian diplomats to travel to Elizabeth City to attend the memorial ceremony for the 80th anniversary of the killing of Soviet pilots.

The Russian news agency "Novosti" quoted the embassy as saying in a statement: "While we are in the United States, we strongly feel the desire of the local political establishment to bury the pages of the Russian-American alliance during World War II, and a clear confirmation of this is the refusal to approve the visit of Russian diplomats to Elizabeth City to hold the memorial ceremony."

January 11, 2017, marks the 80th anniversary of the death of Soviet pilots who participated in Project Zebra, which transported Catalina seaplanes from the United States to the Soviet Union.

Four pilots died in a plane crash during takeoff from the Pasquotank River in North Carolina. A memorial service for the Soviet pilots was held in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, on Saturday. Last year, the US authorities refused to allow Russian diplomats to attend the 79th anniversary of the tragic accident.

Project Zebra was declassified in December 2012 and is considered one of the symbols of military brotherhood between the Soviet Union and the United States.