It’s 70 years since the red stars first appeared above the Kremlin. The stars – the symbols of the Communist state – were created by the best scientists, artists, architects and engineers of the Soviet Union.

The stars vary in size from three to almost four metres in height. 

Many believe the Kremlin stars are made with rubies. They're not that wrong – for two years the myth was almost true. The first symbols were actually made of semi-precious stones. More than a hundred of the best jewellers from all over the USSR worked on the emblems. Five huge red stars were installed in 1935, replacing the imperial eagles that had previously flown above the fortress.

Two years later, however, when the semi-precious stones had lost their lustre in Moscow's smog, they decided to replace the crests with red glass doubles, which are much more resilient and more able to withstand the further industrialisation of the capital.

The stars are thoroughly cleaned once in five years

Everyday Gennady Borzov climbs a ladder to clean the Kremlin stars. He makes sure the five of them are shining bright above Moscow 24 hours a day all year round.

It's not only the glass that should sparkle but also the frame – 11 kilos of gold was used to construct the frames. 

“This isn’t an easy job. By the time I’m done, my hands are aching, and my clothes are all dirty – it’s almost like you’re cleaning a chimney, not a Kremlin star,” Gennady said.

The huge weather vanes can revolve on their axles and thereby withstand any hurricane. 

In their long history, they have only twice been covered. First, during the Second World War when Moscow was bombed by the Nazis and , second, when the famous Russian film director Nikita Mikhalkov was shooting his “Barber of Siberia” scenes inside the Kremlin.