On this day 82 years ago, January 27th, 1944, the Leningrad siege has finally ended after 872 days.

Today we release our largest Great Battles module in three years - Odessa and Leningrad - Siege and Liberation.

We have completed development of all 8 aircraft for this module, as well as both maps. Let us remind you what is included in the set:

1. Early war Soviet biplane fighter I-153 "Chaika" designed by Polikarpov Design Bureau,

2. Early war German Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 fighter,

3. Early war Soviet fighter Yak-1 series 23 by Yakovlev Design Bureau,

4. Early war Soviet fighter LaGG-3 series 4 by Gorbunov Design Bureau,

5. Soviet ground attack aircraft Il-2 model 1944 by Ilyushin Design Bureau,

6. Late war Soviet fighter Yak-3 designed by Yakovlev Design Bureau,

7. Late war German Ju 87 D-5 dive bomber,

8. Late war Soviet fighter La-7 designed by Lavochkin Design Bureau,

9. The "Odessa" map with a flight zone size of 320 x 320 kilometers,

10. The "Gulf of Finland" map with a size of 270 x 230 kilometers.

The project's release means it is now available for purchase both on https://il2-series.com/store/item/odessa-leningrad/our website[il2-series.com] and on Steam. But it is important to note that this does not mean the project's work has stopped! As has always been the case with our previous modules, we will continue to refine and improve it after its official release. We plan to continue developing "Odessa and Leningrad" for several more months.

First, we plan to expand the time periods of the Pilot's Career mode to four full timeframes, two for Odessa and two for Leningrad. Each map will include a timeline for the sieges of these cities in 1941 and their liberation in 1944. In total, these four timeframes will contain 15 (!) chapters. We have currently implemented three of them—two in the Odessa theater of war (1941 and 1944) and one in Leningrad (1941). New chapters will be added with each update.

In addition, we plan to increase the number of seasons for the Gulf of Finland map to five: spring, summer, autumn, the transitional period before and after winter, and winter. Summer and winter have already been released, and the remaining seasons will be added in Q2. We plan to complete the career mode expansion by the end of summer 2026.

Another addition in this version is new historical campaign Ram Squadron dedicated to the actions of the 401st Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force in the summer of 1944. Its main character will be the Spitfire Mk.IXc fighter, which is available to all owners of the Battle of Normandy module.

You will lead a section of Spitfires from the 401st Squadron of the 126th Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Along with attacks on various ground targets, in the summer of 1944, the squadron's pilots engaged in several successful, large-scale air battles, laying the foundation for the future glory of the most effective unit of the 2nd Tactical Air Force. The campaign will culminate in missions to destroy the encircled German forces in the Falaise Pocket.

All missions are based on the combat log of the 401st Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force and, where possible, reconstruct the real ground and air situation that developed during the Battle of Normandy.

The new campaign is available on our website[il2-series.com] and on Steam.

Version 7.001 changelist:

1. The La-7 series 1 fighter and the Il-2 mod. 1944 (with swept wings) ground attack aircraft have been added to the sim. Now, owners of the Siege and Liberation module have access to all 8 of its aircraft listed above

2. The Gulf of Finland map and the Pilot Career mode in the Leningrad Theater of Operations in 1941 are available to all owners of the Siege and Liberation module

3. The Pilot Career modes for the Odessa Theater of Operations in 1944 and 1945 are available to all owners of the Siege and Liberation module

4. A new payware historical campaign on Spitfire Mk.IXc, Ram Squadron, is now available (requires Battle of Normandy)

5. I-153 “Chaika”: flight characteristics with the M-63 engine modification installed have been corrected

6. Buildings won't disappear and reappear when rotating the camera view

7. Corrected the algorithm for calculating coolant leakage from radiators

8. Added single scenarios for the I-153, Yak-1 series 23, and LaGG-3 series 4

9. Career mode: Zeppelin escort mission added to WWI Western Front map

10. Career mode: reduced the probability transport aircraft intercept on the Eastern Front (except for the 6th Army encirclement at Stalingrad timeframe)

11. Career mode: fixed an issue with a group of transport aircraft circling over a drop zone after a successful cargo drop

12. Career mode: added night Intruder and Combat Patrol missions for the Bf 110

13. Career mode: increased the cover distance for the player's group in the Normandy theater of operations

14. Career mode: fixed a bug in the Normandy theater of operations where other aircraft did not have tactical codes in cargo and parachute drop missions

15. Career mode: increased flight altitude in bomber intercept missions on the Eastern Front

16. In the Sky Nomads campaign, changes have been made to the weather conditions in some missions, and a number of bugs have been fixed

Work on the "Siege and Liberation" module is not the only thing we plan to do this year for Great Battles. Soon, we plan to make an important announcement about something new and long-awaited that will be coming to you in the near future. Stay tuned for news and stay in touch!