🕯#OnThisDay in 1945, the United States dropped a nuclear bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, instantly killing almost 80,000 people. About as many people would die in agony later from radiation poisoning. This was the first time in human history that a nuclear device was used in warfare. In fact, it was a merciless test on the civilian population.
The United States has been carrying out research on military applications for nuclear weapons since 1939, seeking to create a formidable weapon that would enable Washington to impose its will on the entire world. Codenamed Manhattan, the project received almost $2 billion in funding.
Three nuclear bombs were developed by mid-summer 1945, cynically codenamed the Gadget, Little Boy and Fat Man. The Gadget was to be used in a test explosion, while the other two were intended to intimidate Japan and also impress the USSR as it reinforced its positions.
Almost all clocks in Hiroshima stopped ticking at 8:15 am. The city was completely wiped from the surface of the Earth with the blast from the explosion turning people into ashes.
Attempts by Western historians to justify this monstrous crime by saying that the United States wanted to force Japan to withdraw from World War II do not hold water. Japan’s military resources were largely depleted by early August 1945, and it was the USSR’s entry into war in the Far East that played a decisive role here.
Therefore, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima was nothing other than a barbarous display of force and an attempt to justify all the money that had been invested in the Manhattan Project. It never occurred to President Harry Truman or any of his successors in this office to apologise for the suffering the people of Hiroshima had to endure.
💬Sergey Lavrov on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (August 6, 2020): To this day, the terrible death of innocent civilians strikes a chord with millions of people on our planet. It is hard to fully understand what the masterminds and perpetrators of such an inhumane act were guided by.
👩🚀#OnThisDay 60 years ago, Soviet citizen Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. Her mission aboard the Vostok-6 spacecraft became a world sensation and inspired millions of women in the Soviet Union and abroad.
The issue of launching a female cosmonaut was raised immediately after Yury Gagarin’s triumphant return from orbit. The goal was to compare the impact of outer space on male and female bodies and to study the possibility of launching civilian specialists into space in future.
🚀 The Vostok-6 flight lasted for two days, 22 hours and 50 minutes and circled the Earth 48 times. Tereshkova made the flight alone; this was never again repeated later. She maintained radio communications with Vostok-5, piloted by Valery Bykovsky.
The first woman in space successfully accomplished her mission. For example, she was able to take pictures of the horizon, and these photos later made it possible to locate aerosol layers in the atmosphere. She violated her strict instructions only after landing in the Altai Territory. While there, she handed out space food tubes to local residents and partook of potatoes and Koumiss, fermented mare’s milk.
🎖Valentina, then 26, lifted off as a Lieutenant and came back a Captain. Three days after landing, she was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Later, she was made a Hero of Socialist Labour of Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Vietnam and Mongolia and became an honorary citizen of 18 Russian and foreign cities.
Tereshkova became the sixth Soviet cosmonaut, the 12th person in space and the youngest woman in orbit. Her daughter Yelena became the first child both of whose parents were cosmonauts.
🇻🇳 On September 2, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam celebrates Independence Day.
Since mid-19th century, Vietnam was under French colonial rule and was later occupied by militaristic Japan during World War II. The victory of the August Revolution in 1945 ended foreign domination and established Vietnam as an independent state.
#OnThisDay 79 years ago, President Ho Chi Minh declared the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Ba Dinh Square in the capital.
The Soviet Union was among the first countries to recognize the new Vietnamese state, establishing diplomatic relations on January 30, 1950. This pivotal recognition laid the groundwork for many years of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between our nations.
The people of Vietnam had to fight for their freedom for many years, initially during the Resistance War from 1946 to 1954, and later in the struggle against foreign aggression led by the USA, which was marked by egregious war crimes against civilians. Throughout these challenging times, the Soviet Union stood by the Vietnamese people, offering them unwavering support.
✊ In 1975, this valiant struggle culminated in the reunification of the country and the establishment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Today, Vietnam is a rapidly developing state and an active participant in both regional and international organizations.
🤝 Modern-day Russia-Vietnam relations are built on a foundation of enduring friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, characterized by a comprehensive strategic partnership. We have a robust political dialogue, and our trade, economic, technological, and cultural and humanitarian ties are steadily growing. Political contacts and negotiations at high and the highest levels occur regularly.
🎉 We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our Vietnamese colleagues and friends on their national holiday! We wish them peace, prosperity, and success.
#RussiaVietnam
🗓#OnThisDay7️⃣5️⃣ years ago — on February 3, 1950 — the USSR and Indonesia established diplomatic relations.
🇷🇺🇮🇩 The two nations saw traditionally friendly, partner relations take shape, which have come a long way since then. Their onward development meets the core interests of the Russian and Indonesian people.
In 1950, the Soviet Union was among the first to recognize the young republic in Southeast Asia, contributed to the establishment of its statehood, and provided significant assistance in the construction of transport and social infrastructure facilities.
In the 1960s, the first President of Indonesia, Soekarno, visited the USSR four times, where he met with the leadership of the USSR, which in turn also visited the archipelago.
Over the past years, we have managed to amass unique experience of joint efforts in a wide range of areas. Today, our ties are making steady headway. Moscow and Jakarta have evolved an intensive political dialogue, including at the highest level. There are regular channels for collaboration between ministries, including ministries of foreign affairs, parliaments, and companies.
Our countries hold similar or coinciding approaches on issues on the global and regional agendas and closely coordinate their activities within the UN and other international platforms.
🤝 The recent accession of Indonesia to #BRICS as a full-fledged participant will contribute to the expansion of Russia-Indonesia cooperation in promoting the interests of the states of the Global South, strengthening the multilateral principles of modern interstate relations.
The accumulated positive experience of cooperation over many years remains a solid foundation for the further expansion of the entire range of bilateral relations, which meets the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries.
💬 President Vladimir Putin during the Russia-Indonesia talks(July 31, 2024): “Russia and Indonesia share a long-standing friendship that began decades ago.Despite the pandemic and the current developments around Russia, including associated restrictions, our trade has been growing. It has doubled over the past years. This is a very positive trend, which makes us happy.”
#RussiaIndonesia
🕯December 3marks the Day of the Unknown Soldier in Russia, honouring the feat of all soldiers who perished for the Motherland, yet whose names remain unknown.
#OnThisDay in 1966, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Red Army's victory over Nazi forces in theBattle of Moscow, a ceremony of the burial of the unknown soldiers' remains was held in the Alexander Garden near the walls of the Moscow Kremlin. These remains were originally located in a mass grave on the 41st kilometre of the Leningrad Highway and were discovered during construction activities on the road. Back in 1941, during the Battle of Moscow, this very place saw fierce and bloody battles between the Soviet forces and Nazi invaders.
▪️ On May 8, 1967, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden was unveiled. "Your name is unknown, your deed is immortal", — the worldwide famous words were inscribed upon the granite slab on the Tomb. Soviet newspapers noted back then: "...he [the Unknown Soldier] was slain for his Motherland, for his home — Moscow. This is all we know about him."
💬 Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Rokossovsky remarked:
"The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the ancient walls of the Moscow Kremlin shall serve as a monument of eternal glory to the heroes who died on the battlefield for their Motherland.
Henceforth, the ashes of the one who shielded Moscow with his chest rest here".
The Eternal Flame was set at the Tomb. In December of 1997, the Honor Guard was instituted near the Eternal Flame.
In total, approximately two million Soviet and Russian citizens were reported missing in action during the wars and conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries. The Russian Ministry of Defence carries out on a regular basis search operations to perpetuate the memory of heroes who perished for the Motherland.
Russian diplomats abroad are engaged in extensive efforts aimed at preserving historical memory, countering attempts to distort the history of #WWII and to question the Great Victory of the Soviet people.
The Embassies of Russia all across the world ensure the maintenance, repair and restoration of Soviet monuments and war graves.
❗️ Regrettably, as part of a disgraceful campaign to distort history of #WWII, a policy ofstate vandalism is being pursued in certain countries of Eastern Europe, in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland in particular, with the one aim — to eradicate Russia's memorial heritage — the monuments to Soviet heroes and liberators.
By order of the official authorities, criminal acts are being perpetrated in these countries to desecrate mass graves, when the remains of fallen soldiers are barbarically exhumed for the purpose of their subsequent "reburial in accordance with European practice" in specially designated locations.
🎗 It is prohibited for Russian compatriots in Europe, under the threat (!) of criminal prosecution, to pay tribute to heroes who fought against Nazism. The Russian MFA highlights these outrageous incidents.
The memory of all who sacrificed their lives for our future is and will remain immortal.
#WeRemember
🌟#OnThisDay in 1943, the Battle of Prokhorovka took place, the largest tank engagement in human history fought as part of the wider Battle of Kursk. In the fiercest moments of the fighting, up to 1,200 tanks and self-propelled artillery units were engaged simultaneously.
By July 1943, a significant part of Soviet territory was still under Nazi control, but the potential of the Third Reich war machine was already running out. Trying to regain the initiative, the Wehrmacht command developed a summer offensive plan, codenamed Operation Citadel. The Nazis intended to destroy the Voronezh and Central fronts and crush the Red Army tank reserves near Prokhorovka, a village in the Belgorod Region.
🔻 By the night of July 9, German troops succeeded in cutting into the Voronezh Front defences, but their further advance was curbed. The German command then decided to try and break the Soviet defence line by striking at Prokhorovka, to reach Kursk from the south-east. To disrupt the offensive, the Voronezh Front command launched a counterattack on July 12, which went down in history as the Battle of Prokhorovka.
On July 12, Germany’s 2nd SS Panzer Corps faced off against two Soviet forces, Alexey Zhadov’s 5th Guards Army and the 5th Guards Tank Army commanded by Pavel Rotmistrov in the vicinity of Prokhorovka. The battle was fought with varying success; both sides were forced to draw on reserves.
✍️ Soviet ace tanker Vasily Bryukhov recalled in his memoirs: “Strong explosions often made a tank just collapse, turn into a pile of metal in a matter of seconds. <...> The opponents were perfect matches for each other. They fought desperately, ferociously, with fierce abandon.”
In every instance of the battle, the Red Army soldiers demonstrated unparalleled courage and extraordinary fighting skill. Thanks to their decisive actions, the enemy exhausted offensive opportunities and on July 16, began to withdraw its troops to the initial positions held at the beginning of the Battle of Kursk. The Red Army seized the strategic initiative and held it for the rest of the war.
#Victory79#WeRemember
🗓 June 6 is #RussianLanguageDay in Russia.
✍️#OnThisDay in 1799 the greatest poet, writer, playwright, historian, publicist, creator of the modern Russian literary language Alexander Pushkin was born.
🇷🇺 On June 6, 2011, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree on the annual celebration of Russian Language Day in order to “preserve, support and develop the Russian language as a national treasure of the peoples of the Russian Federation, a tool of international communication and an integral part of the cultural and spiritual heritage of world civilization”.
Russian is one of the most popular languages in the world. It is spoken by about 146 million citizens of the Russian Federation and 109 million abroad.
Watch the video to learn more interesting facts 👆
#RussianLanguage#Pushkin
🗓 June 6 is #RussianLanguageDay in Russia.
✍️#OnThisDay in 1799 the greatest poet, writer, playwright, historian, publicist, creator of the modern Russian literary language Alexander Pushkin was born.
🇷🇺 On June 6, 2011, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree on the annual celebration of Russian Language Day in order to “preserve, support and develop the Russian language as a national treasure of the peoples of the Russian Federation, a tool of international communication and an integral part of the cultural and spiritual heritage of world civilization”.
Russian is one of the most popular languages in the world. It is spoken by about 146 million citizens of the Russian Federation and 109 million abroad.
Watch the video to learn more interesting facts 👆
#RussianLanguage#Pushkin
🌟#OnThisDay8️⃣0️⃣ years ago, on January 27, 1945, Auschwitz-Birkenau (Oswiecim, was located in Nazi-occupied Poland) — the most terrifying German extermination camp in #WWII — was liberated by the Red Army’s 1st Ukrainian Front during the Vistula–Oder offensive operation.
#Auschwitz was created by the Nazis in 1940 in a building that used to serve as military barracks near a small town called Oswiecim, whose history dates back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Having occupied Poland in 1939, the Nazis changed the town's name of Oswiecim to German Auschwitz. Later, in 1941-1943, two more imprisonment facilities were established in the vicinity of Oswiecim. They were:
▪️Auschwitz II — best known to the wider public as #AuschwitzBirkenau, was three kilometres away from the main facility — Oswiecim and located near Brzezinka, a Polish village (Birkenau in German). Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest "death factory". Equipped with crematoriums and gas chambers, it was created by the Nazis with only one aim — exterminate people.
▪️Auschwitz III (also known as Monowitz). Its prisoners were used by the Nazis for the Third Reich war industries.
Following the so-called Wannsee Conference in 1942, the Nazis approved what was called the “final solution to the Jewish question”. Since then, Auschwitz-Birkenau was turned into the main "death factory" for the annihilation of Jews in Europe.
❗️ Prisoners of Oswiecim were held by the Nazis in inhuman, barbaric conditions. They had to do hard, exhausting work until total exhaustion, to endure poor sanitation in the camp's facilities, malnutrition and constant tortures by the guards and SS-troops. It was in Oswiecim that the Germans first tested the "Zyklon-B" poisonous agent on human beings. Prisoners of Auschwitz were also subjected to cruel medical experiments, led by a Nazi criminal, infamous retired military doctor Josef Mengele.
In 1944, when the Red Army started the liberation of Europe, the Nazis, in an effort to cover the tracks of their crimes in Auschwitz, rushed to burn documents and destroy the camp's gas chambers, crematoriums, and deported as many prisoners as they could westward to other concentration camps deep in the Third Reich — over 58,000 prisoners were evacuated by the Nazis before Oswiecim and liberated by the Soviet forces in January, 1945.
***
In January 1945, the units of the 1st Ukrainian Front launched the Vistula-Oder offensive and, successfully expelling the Nazis from Poland, finally reached Auschwitz.
⚔️ In the late hours of January 27, following three days of fighting the retreating enemy, the Red Army took over Oswiecim and opened the gatesofAuschwitz. The camp’s 7,000 prisoners were freed. Most of them were sick or suffering from extreme exhaustion and tortures.
Rescued prisoners burst into tears of joy when they greeted their liberators. Some facilities of the camp were instantly made a hospital. According to various historic estimates, in 1940-1945, from 1.5 to 4 million people perished in Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Over the past years, we are witnessing a campaign in several European countries, including Poland, to rewrite and falsify the history of WWII and, in particular, to erase the memory of the feat performed by the Soviet soldiers-liberators who saved the Auschwitz prisoners.
🎙 From a briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on topical foreign policy issues (January 23, 2025):
💬 "This year, like all those years before, Russian representatives will not be invited to the commemoration ceremonies at Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27. That is, there will be no one there to mention the Soviet liberator soldiers and express gratitude to them. In this regard, there is something that needs to be said to the organisers and all the Europeans who will be there:
Your lives, your work and leisure, the very existence of your nations, your children have been paid for by Soviet soldiers, their lives, their blood. It was them who crushed the Third Reich machine. You are forever in their debt."
🕯#WeRemember
🇷🇺🇧🇾 Today, Belarus, a state linked to Russia by centuries of fraternal friendship and bonds of mutual assistance, is marking Independence Day.
#OnThisDay in 1944, Minsk was liberated from Nazi German invaders and occupants as a result of well-coordinated Red Army operations. Fighting shoulder to shoulder, our nations made a decisive contribution to the Victory over Nazism.
Today, Russian-Belarusian relations are those of strategic partnership and alliance. Together, our countries continue to overcome serious difficulties and defend their interests on the international scene. They collaborate closely in the field of military and military-technical cooperation and in ensuring collective security.
Moscow and Minsk jointly streamline various institutions of the Union State and promote integration projects in the Eurasian region. Our countries voice common or similar positions on many international issues and cooperate closely in the #CSTO, the #EAEU, the #CIS, the #UN, the #OSCE and other international and regional organisations.
🤝 We congratulate the fraternal people of Belarus on the national holiday. We wish them well-being and prosperity.
#RussiaBelarus#UnionState