The bells of Moscow's Spasskaya Tower traditionally mark midnight during Russia's New Year's Eve broadcast.
Spasskaya Tower stands on the eastern side of the Moscow Kremlin, facing Red Square. Its clock, commonly called the Kremlin chimes, has long held a prominent place in Russian public timekeeping and national ceremonies.
On New Year's Eve, television coverage traditionally features the clock and its chimes as the country counts down to the new year. The chimes are often followed by the Russian national anthem and celebratory fireworks in Moscow and other cities.
The tower dates from the late fifteenth century and was designed by the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari. The current clock mechanism has been modified over time, while the tower's red star was installed during the Soviet period. Spasskaya Tower is sometimes mistaken for the Kremlin's other towers, but its clock makes it the specific New Year landmark.