Putin marks 80 Years since victory in Great Patriotic War
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Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a Victory Day speech, emphasizing unity, resistance to historical distortion, and support for the ongoing special military operation.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)
The Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russians on Friday, as part of his Victory Day speech comemmorating the 80th anniversary of Moscow's triumph over Nazism.
"Dear citizens of Russia, dear veterans, respected guests ... I congratulate you on the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War," Putin said, announcing a moment of silence at the Victory Parade, taking place on Red Square in Moscow.
"We highly value the contribution to our common struggle of soldiers of the allied armies, participants in the resistance, the friendly people of China. All those who fought for a peaceful future," the Russian President said.
The #Russian military parade in The Red Square in #Moscow is attended by a large number of leaders from around the world. https://t.co/sPhHrbmR2l
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 9, 2025
He went on to highlight how 80% of the world was involved in World War II, describing it as a "fiery orbit", and attributing the defeat of Nazi Germany, Militarized Japan, and all their allies in different region to joint efforts by the countries of the United Nations.
Putin stated that Nazi Germany’s ambitions to conquer Soviet lands were shattered by the unbreakable unity and collective heroism of the Soviet people, emphasizing that Russia remembers the lessons of World War II and will not tolerate any distortion of its history, justification of its perpetrators, or defamation of those who truly achieved victory.
The Russian military parade includes various types of military vehicles, equipment, and Russian army units. https://t.co/Kt83fPTpE6
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 9, 2025
The Russian President highlighted the widespread Russian support against Ukraine, expressing pride in the strength of spirit, saying, "The entire country, society, and people support the participants of the special military operation. We are proud of their courage and determination, that fortitude that has always brought us only victory."
Russia celebrates Victory Day
Every year on May 9, Russia observes Victory Day, which stands as one of the most important holidays in the country, marking the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War, a term used by Russia to describe its involvement in World War II, a conflict that began on June 22, 1941, and concluded on May 9, 1945.
The highlight of Victory Day commemorations is the large-scale military parade that takes place in Moscow’s Red Square, where thousands of soldiers march in precise formations, accompanied by displays of armored vehicles, missile launchers, and aerial demonstrations by fighter jets.
Putin usually gives an address to pay tribute to those who lost their lives and to emphasize both Russia’s historical legacy and its present-day power.
Leaders from across Latin America, including Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel, along with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, are anticipated to participate, while European representatives, such as Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, are also expected to join, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has confirmed his attendance after recovering from a recent health issue that required hospitalization.
What is Victory Day?
Each year on May 9, Russia commemorates Victory Day, marking the moment Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Soviet Union at 12:43 AM Moscow time in 1945, concluding the Great Patriotic War and the Soviet Union’s involvement in World War II.
The day stands as both a tribute to immense national sacrifice and a celebration of resilience, observed through military parades, public ceremonies, and veteran tributes across the country.
Establishing Victory Day as a National Holiday
The recognition of May 9 as Victory Day was first formalized by a decree of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet on May 8, 1945, immediately following the end of the war.
Initially a public holiday, it was redesignated as a working day in 1947 before being reinstated as a non-working holiday in 1965, and after the dissolution of the USSR, the Russian Federation reaffirmed the holiday through the Federal Law "On Days of Military Glory and Memorable Dates of Russia," signed by then-President Boris Yeltsin in 1995.
Additional regulations under the 1995 law "On Immortalizing the Victory of the Soviet People in the 1941–1945 Great Patriotic War" outlined ceremonial guidelines, including military parades, artillery salutes, and commemorative events in major cities.
"عيد النصر هو أهم الأعياد في بلادنا وأجدادنا علمونا حماية الوطن والدفاع عن مصالحنا".
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) May 9, 2025
الرئيس الروسي فلاديمير بوتين خلال العرض العسكري في موسكو.#الميادين #روسيا pic.twitter.com/wIP7hwsUKj
Modern-Day Celebrations Across Russia
Today, Victory Day is marked by extensive public and military events across Russia, with the centerpiece being the annual parade on Moscow's Red Square, which has taken place consistently since 1995.
Starting in 2008, these parades began including heavy military equipment and aerial fly-pasts, reinforcing both historical memory and military presence.
🚨🔥🪖 T-34 LEADS MECHANIZED COLUMN THROUGH RED SQUARE
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) May 9, 2025
Leading the way, the legendary T-34 tanks. In total, 183 units of military equipment are part of the parade. pic.twitter.com/ZrjBkmAUH2
Last year, Moscow held its full-scale Victory Day parade featuring over 9,000 service members, including approximately 1,000 participants from the special military operation in Ukraine, along with 75 units of military hardware and aircraft, while regional parades in 2023 and 2024 were canceled in several areas due to security concerns.
🇷🇺 RUSSIAN MISSILE FORCE & ARTILLERY
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) May 9, 2025
The column is equipped with the powerful 152mm Msta-S self-propelled howitzers.
These self-propelled howitzers showcase their exceptional combat capabilities, enabling crews to destroy enemy outposts with precision and power. pic.twitter.com/m2M5vybkBC
Honoring the heroes of the Soviet Union
Victory Day is inseparable from the memory of the immense human cost suffered by the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War, with estimated casualties nearing 27 million people, the vast majority of whom were civilians.
The Extraordinary State Commission reported that Nazi forces devastated more than 1,700 towns and 70,000 villages, causing economic damage valued at 679 billion rubles by 1941 standards.
In recognition of their service and sacrifice, 11,657 individuals were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, including 3,051 posthumous awards, 95 women, and 44 foreign citizens. Among them, 154 were honored twice.
Three were awarded the title three times: Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov, who led the Red Army to victory in key battles including the capture of Berlin; Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Konev, a prominent front commander during operations in Ukraine and Central Europe; and Air Marshal Alexander Pokryshkin, one of the most decorated Soviet fighter pilots of the war.
Two individuals received the title four times: Marshal of Aviation Ivan Kozhedub, the highest-scoring Allied fighter ace of World War II, and Marshal of the Soviet Union Leonid Brezhnev, who was later the General Secretary of the Communist Party, although some of his awards were granted for political leadership rather than battlefield valor.
As of May 8, 2025, Boris Kravtsov is the last living wartime recipient of the title, while Pavel Syutkin, who passed away in Sochi in 2008, was the final individual to receive the Hero of Russia title for World War II service during his lifetime.
As of early 2025, approximately 7,000 veterans of the Great Patriotic War remain living in Russia, according to Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. Under current Russian legislation, war veteran status also extends to widows of veterans, home front workers, former concentration camp prisoners, and residents of besieged cities such as Leningrad, Sevastopol, and Volgograd, the latter of whom were formally recognized in April 2023.
Jubilee celebrations through the decades
While May 9 has been observed annually, large-scale jubilee celebrations were particularly emphasized on milestone anniversaries, beginning with the 20th anniversary in 1965.
Subsequent grand commemorations followed in 1975 and 1985, often featuring international guests including leaders of socialist countries and representatives of the anti-Hitler coalition.
In contrast, non-jubilee years saw more modest observances, often limited to ceremonial events at the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, yet even during these years, the enduring symbolism of Victory Day remained deeply embedded in the Russian national consciousness, underscoring the continued relevance of the Soviet victory in shaping modern Russian identity.
