🗓Exactly 80 years ago, on 4 April 1945, the Red Army liberated Bratislava from the forces of the Nazi Germany.
The goal of the Bratislava–Brno Offensive Operation (25 March – 5 May 1945), carried out by the troops led by Marshal Rodion Malinovsky, was to liberate Slovakia and to reach the outskirts of Prague. The Soviet cavalry attacks under the command of General Issa Pliev became a striking episode of the battles for Bratislava.
The units of Cossacks crushed the enemy, not permitting the Nazis to regroup for defence. At the same time, ships of the Danube Flotilla landed a large assault force in the enemy’s rear, clearing the way towards Bratislava. Within just 24 hours of street battles, the capital of Slovakia was liberated from the fascists.
The troops were commended for the successful fighting, while the military divisions and units that had performed best in the battles to recapture the city were named after the city of Bratislava.
In Slovakia, there are about 160 burial sites of Soviet soldiers who perished during the liberation of the territory of the present Slovak Republic from fascism. More than 60,000 Soviet soldiers rest in military cemeteries, mass graves and individual tombs. In their honour, some 100 monuments, memorial plaques and other commemorative signs have been erected.
❗️We shall never forget the great heroic act of the Red Army!
#Victory80#WeRemember
🥇 The 872-day Siege of Leningrad was a harrowing ordeal for everyone who remained in the city. However, each resident of Leningrad contributed to the future victory through their hard work and fortitude. Every citizen, both young and old, actively participated in the defence of the city, extinguishing fires, clearing rubble, building fortifications, working at industrial enterprises, and helping the wounded.
❗️ All this happened against the backdrop of terrible exhaustionfrom hunger and constant shelling by the enemy.
Children's diaries have a unique place in commemorating the resilience of ordinary people whose will to live triumphed over the oppression of the Third Reich. During this difficult time, some of the city’s children documented on paper the terrible events they witnessed day by day.
🕯 The most famous of these diaries was Tanya Savicheva's notebook, where six out of nine pages chronicle the dates of her relatives' deaths: her mother, grandmother, sister, brother and two uncles. Tragically, Tanya herself died during evacuation in the Gorky Region on July 1, 1944, at the age of 14.
Keeping a diary helped these children cope with anxiety, fear and loss. Under the onslaught of hunger, constant shelling and bombing, and the death of loved ones, a piece of paper and a pencil provided solace and support. These written accounts offer invaluable insights into the experiences of people during those terrible 872 days of the Siege.
📚 Today, on the 80th Anniversary of the lifting of the Siege, we share excerpts from the diaries of children who witnessed those tragic events.
#WeRemember
🗓 April 4 marks the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Bratislava from Nazi invaders, expelled from the capital of Slovakia as a result of the Bratislava-Brno offensive operation (March 25 – May 5, 1945), which involved units of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, commanded by Marshal Rodion Malinovsky.
💬 Marshal Matvey Zakharov, Chief of Staff of the 2nd Ukrainian Front:
Before advancing on Bratislava, the front’s command established communications with Slovak partisans, who proved invaluable. They provided crucial intelligence about the German fortification system, plans for defending specific cities, as well as the strength and organisation of the enemy forces.
🏅 On March 25, Soviet forces launched an offensive on the heavily fortified city. In an effort to minimise civilian casualties and destruction, the Soviet high command opted not to use large-calibre artillery systems, primarily deploying assault infantry units instead.
By April 2, Soviet forces had entered the eastern and north-eastern districts of the city. On April 4, Red Army forces reached Bratislavsky Hrad, a fortress in central Bratislava, where the remaining German garrison was holed up. The city fell by the end of the day, with scattered Nazi units retreating towards Vienna.
Soviet authorities immediately began efforts to restore normal life in the city. Archive documents from the Russian Defence Ministry, declassified ahead of the 75th Anniversary of Bratislava’s liberation, indicate that rubble and debris had been cleared from the city’s central streets and squares by April 10, 1945. The sewage system was reactivated, and people began returning to their homes from nearby villages.
As a result of the Bratislava-Brno operation, the forces of the 2nd Ukrainian Front advanced 200 km, destroyed 9 Wehrmacht divisions and created conditions for further offensive operations towards Prague and Vienna.
The military units that distinguished themselves in the battles for the city were awarded the honorary title of "Bratislava".
A total of 6'845 Soviet officers and soldiers lost their lives while fighting in Bratislava, most of whom are buried at the Slavin military memorial complex in the centre of the Slovak capital.
Every year on April 4, this complex hosts commemorative events dedicated to the city’s liberation from Nazi invaders, with participation from Russian representatives. This year, a delegation of students from MGIMO University will take part in the event.
In total, 63'518 Red Army officers and soldiers were killed while liberating Slovakia.
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⚔️ Simultaneously, the forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front halted a major German offensive south of Lake Balaton in Hungary, where the German high command had deployed its best remaining tank units, amid fierce and brutal fighting.
The Red Army pursued the retreating enemy units and completely liberated Hungary by April 4.
The Wehrmacht’s further resistance was futile from a military and strategic perspective, serving only as an attempt by Hitler and his inner circle to delay their inevitable downfall by sacrificing the lives of hundreds of thousands of their compatriots.
🕯Over 140'000 Soviet officers and soldiers were killed or went missing while liberating Hungary. There are 1'231 Russian (Soviet) burial sites in the country, including 1'036 that date back to the World War II period.
#Victory80
@RusEmbMalta Press release.
🗓 On March 24, 1999, the North Atlantic bloc started bombing Yugoslavia. The "military operation" against a sovereign state became a tragic milestone in the life of the Serbian people and delivered a devastating blow to international law.
The US and its cronies bombed the cities, including Belgrade, villages & civilian infrastructure for 78 days, blowing up bridges, passenger trains and buses and killing women, children & elderly people. In doing so, the West destroyed the post-WWII foundations of European security and started replacing the legitimate mechanisms that regulated international relations with a “rules-based order”.
▪️ 3'000 cruise missiles were fired at a sovereign European republic & 80'000 tonnes of aerial bombs rained down on its people.
The use of depleted uranium ammunition contaminated vast areas & caused an unprecedented rise in cancer-related diseases that continues to affect people to this day.
More than 200.000 non-Albanian residents of Kosovo, forced to flee their homes, have yet to return.
Under the cover of NATO's aggression, members of the so-called "Kosovo Liberation Army" committed heinous crimes, including the abduction and murder of Serbs for the illegal trade of human organs.
❗️None of the NATO representatives has been called to account. The victims of the aggression were written off as “collateral damage,” meaning losses that "accompany" the fulfillment of the geopolitical ambitions of the US, the UK, and their satellites.
💬 From the briefing by Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, (Moscow, March 20, 2025):
NATO’s “humanitarian intervention” can serve as an example of modern barbarity and the rule-based world order and its backbone value: unfounded belief in its own superiority. <...> This is what Western democracy and freedoms look like. This view is still dominating in the West, where thousands of killed Yugoslavian civilians, including 89 children, are cynically called collateral damage. This is democracy with freedom of speech.
The issue of the NATO allies’ responsibility for the damage they have done to international relations and Yugoslavia remains unresolved.
🕯 The brutal operation carried out against sovereign Yugoslavia 26 years ago is a tragedy inflicted upon the people of Yugoslavia by NATO warmongers with lasting and multifaceted consequences.
#WeRemember#Yugoslavia1999
🗓 On June 8, 1920 — 104 years ago — the most successful ace pilot of the Anti-Hitler Coalition, Three-time Hero of the Soviet Union and to Marshal of Air Forces Ivan Kozhedub was born.
⚔️ Ivan Kozhedub achieved his first aerial victory at the age of 23, on July 6, 1943, during the Battle of Kursk. During his 40th combat sortie at Kursk, he engaged in a battle 12 enemy aircraft and shot down a Junkers Ju-87 Stuka dive-bomber, followed by another Stuka on July 7. On July 9, 1943, Kozhedub destroyed two Messerschmitt Me-109 fighters.
On October 1-12, 1943, he shot down 14 German aircraft during dogfights over the Dnieper — a unique combat episode in the history of Soviet aviation.
In August 1944, Kozhedub was appointed Deputy Commander of the 176th Guards Fighter Aircraft Regiment and started flying a new Lavochkin La-7 fighter.
During the Great Patriotic War, Kozhedub flew 330 combat missions, engaged in 120 dogfights and shot down 62 enemy aircraft.
After the Victory, he continued to serve with the Soviet Air Force and commanded a fighter aircraft division during the Korean War. Kozhedub was promoted to Air Marshal ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Great Victory.
🎖 Three-time Hero of the Soviet Union, Ivan Kozhedub received two Orders of Lenin, seven Orders of the Red Banner, one Order of Alexander Nevsky, one Order of the Great Patriotic War 1st Class, two Orders for of the Red Star, Orders for Service in the Soviet Armed Forces 2nd and 3rd Class, and multiple medals.
#FacesOfVictory#WeRemember
🌐 The Leningrad Region hosted an informal meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leaders (December 25, 2024).
💬President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Before we start working, unfortunately, I have to say a few words about a tragedy that happened in Aktau today. People have been killed in an air crash, and many more have been injured. As we have just noted, I would like, on your behalf, to offer condolences to the families of the deceased and to all the injured. We will hope that they recover.
By agreement with the President of Kazakhstan, an aircraft of the Russian Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief will deliver medical personnel and the required additional equipment to Aktau.
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Over the past year, Russia focused its efforts as part of its #CIS chairmanship on promoting Eurasian integration, consolidating the international standing of the CIS, as well as enabling its executive bodies to be effective in their work. We made forging deeper economic ties our priority, while also seeking to ensure the free movement of goods, services, as well as remove trade barriers and streamline customs clearance procedures.
📈 In this context, let me note that Russia’s trade with CIS member nations increased by 10.6 percent in the first ten months and slightly exceeded $93 billion. Our countries have greatly improved their macroeconomic performance. The aggregate GDP for the CIS is expected to increase by 4.7 percent in 2024, which places the CIS above the global average. <…>
CIS countries have expanded their cooperation in the foreign exchange and financial sectors by becoming increasingly proactive in using their own independent foreign exchange transaction frameworks, payment systems and settlement tools. In fact, national currencies accounted for over 85 percent of commercial transactions within the CIS.
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☝️It is notable that the CIS countries have the same or close views on the key global and regional issues. At the same time, all CIS countries stand for creating a just world order based on the universally recognised principles of international law and the central role of the #UN.
#Victory80 Of course, the CIS countries also remember and hold sacred the immortal heroism of our peoples, the peoples of the Soviet Union who fought side by side to bring our victory in the Great Patriotic War. Next year, we will celebrate a landmark date, the 80th anniversary of Victory, and so the year 2025 has been declared the Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight Against Nazism in the CIS. <...>
Friends, we look forward to seeing you at the celebrations in Moscow on May 9. We also hope that military units from the CIS countries will take part in the parade on Red Square.
On January 1, 2025, Russia will hand over the CIS chairmanship to Tajikistan. I would like to wish success to Mr Emomali Rahmon and all our Tajik friends. We are ready to provide all the necessary assistance to them. Overall, I am confident that the deepening of partnership in various spheres within the CIS meets the fundamental interests of our nations. I have no doubt that we will continue to work together to fulfil our socioeconomic development tasks and to strengthen stability and security.
I would like to use this occasion to extend my most cordial greetings on the upcoming New Year and to wish health, happiness, well-being and prosperity to the citizens of your countries.
🌟On May 9, the Russian Embassy in Ethiopia hosted a reception in honor of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The event was attended by heads and employees of diplomatic missions of the CIS countries, China, and our Ethiopian friends.
🎶 The staff of the Russian Embassy prepared a touching concert program with the participation of teachers from the school at the Embassy. Archival footage from the Second World War and a thematic photo exhibition were also shown as part of the reception. A record of the Victory Parade on Red Square was organized.
🇷🇺🎙 In his speech, Ambassador Evgeny Terekhin noted that, despite all geopolitical upheavals, most people on the planet share the view of Russia's real contribution to Victory over Nazism and the preservation of peace.
❗️Russia will always steadfastly defend the historical truth and will not allow the lessons of the past to be forgotten.
#Victory80#VictoryDay
🔥 In anticipation of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Belgium and the Permanent Mission of Russia to the European Union, together with staff of the Russian House in Brussels, began holding a series of traditional memorial events at the graves of Soviet soldiers and citizens throughout the Kingdom.
🧧On May 5 of this year, A flower-laying ceremony was held at the graves of Soviet citizens buried in the cemeteries of Peysan, Kevi, and Chime.
🧧On May 8 of this year, staff of the Russian House in Brussels, as well as activists of the Russian compatriots movement, visited the cemetery of the Brussels commune of Ixelles and laid flowers at the grave of the legendary participant in the Belgian Resistance movement, Marina Shafrova-Marutaeva.
🎗Marina Shafrova-Marutaeva actively participated in the underground struggle against the Nazi invaders and was nicknamed the "Belgian Joan of Arc" for her heroic deeds.
Commemorative events in Belgium will be held throughout May.
#Victory81#WeRemember
🇫🇷🎗 Paris honors Russian participants in the French Resistance
🗓 On May 7, on the eve of Victory Day, Russian Ambassador to France A.Yu. Meshkov, accompanied by the military attaché, laid a wreath at the monument to Russian participants in the French Resistance, located in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
🌺 The ceremony was attended by Russia's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, R.Zh. Alyautdinov, the leadership of the Russian House of Science and Culture in Paris (RDNC) and the Russian Trade Mission in France, as well as concerned French and Russian compatriots.
"To date, 180,000 Soviet citizens and people from the former Russian Empire who participated in the anti-fascist Resistance have been identified. We remember each of them. And this monument is dedicated to a famous soldier, a Russian participant in the French Resistance," A.Yu. Meshkov emphasized in his speech.
🎼 Performances by students of the children's musical theater "Gameins" and the grandson of a Resistance participant, actor and public figure Guillaume Rath, added a special solemnity and touching touch to the event. They performed the anthem of the French Resistance, "Song of the Partisans," as well as the famous Soviet composition "We Need One Victory."
#Victory81#WeRemember