The day after the battle of Poltava, Peter I ordered the burial of the dead officers and soldiers in two separate graves close to each other. All Russian regiments were drawn up close to the graves to pay their last respect to the fallen warriors. After the service for the dead a big burial hill on the top of the common grave was raised.

In accordance with an old legend, Peter I mounted a large wooden cross on its top. All in all, 1345 Russian warriors were buried in this grave. This common grave was not changed until 1894, when a decision to create a memorial in commemoration of fallen Russians was taken by then Tsar Alexander III.

A monument above the common grave was opened and consecrated on September 11th 1895 in presence the Tsar Alexander III. On the eastern side of cross' foundation the following inscription cut out:” Brigadier Felengheim, colonels Nechaev and Lov, lieutenant colonel Kozlov, majors Kropotov, Erst and Gelt are buried here. 45 officers, 1293 privates and corporals, in all 1345 Russians are buried here". On the reverse side of the monument there is an inscription:” Pious warriors shed their blood here on June 27th 1709".

However, the heavy granite cross started to sink. In 1906 a decision was made to open the common grave of the Russian warriors, reinforce the foundation of the memorial and built an inner chapel with a spherical vault. In 1907 the mound hill was rebuilt and a small grave chapel in the name of St. Peter and Paul was constructed inside of mound hill.

The final reconstruction of the memorial was completed in 1909 on the eve of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the battle. Because of twist of fate local inhabitants still refer to this common grave as a Swedish Grave, although no Swedish warriors are buried there.