#Victory81
🌟 On January 13, 1945, the #EastPrussian Offensive by the Red Army — one of the largest and most important #WWII operations against Nazi Germany — commenced.
As a result of the operation in the #EastPrussia, the Soviet forces ultimatelydestroyed the Nazis' most capable, experienced, trained and equipped divisions on the entire Eastern front. The 'invincible reich' lost a critical strategic bridgehead in the Baltic region.
The fortress city of #Königsberg — the cradle of German militarism and the starting point of eastward expansion — fell once and for all.
The triumph of the Red Army in East Prussia held profound symbolic significance: the Nazis were decisively and completely crushed right there, where from, back in June 1941, they treacherously attacked our Motherland.
▪️“There it is, cursed Germany,”— that was what the Soviet soldiers-liberators said while stepping on the enemy's soil to pursue the condign retribution upon the Germans on their own territory.
Those were exactly the accurate words to call the country where the most terrible evil the Mankind ever saw in its history — the Nazi scourge — was nurtured.
The Germans sought Moscow’s fall, but instead they witnessed with disgrace the collapse of their own “great Reich.”
***
The East-Prussian operation. The details
January-April, 1945
The battles on the East Prussian theatre of operations lasted for 103 days, which made it the area that saw the longest continuous military engagement in the final year of #WW2.
In the region, the Nazis constructed an exceptionally formidable defensive system, tailored to the specific features of terrain. The capital of East Prussia — the fortress city of Königsberg — was equipped with both external and internal urban fortification systems. In East Prussia, the Red Army faced the Nazi army with the personnel strength of some 780'000 Wehrmacht soldiers and officers.
⚔️ On January 13, 1945, the units of the 2nd Byelorussian and forces of the 3rd Byelorussian Fronts of the Red Army launched the offensive in East Prussia.
Through the swift and overwhelming assault, the Soviet armor and the infantry, with the support of the aviaton, reached the Baltic Sea near Elbing (now the city of Elbląg in northern Poland) already on the third day of the operation, thus, having cut off any possible retreat routes for the enemy from East Prussia westwards.
In less than two weeks, the Soviet forces broke through to Königsberg — the infamous Nazi citadel, which had allowed the Germans to dominate the eastern Baltics throughout the entire war, wasencircled.
By February 10, 1945, the Nazi army group 'North' had been split into three isolated and tied down formations that were further driven to the coastline with no hope of escape.
In April, the Königsberg garrison — numbering around 200'000 Wehrmacht soldiers and officers — was defeatedand surrendered. On April 9, the Red Army seized the fortress completely — the impregnable stronghold of the Third Reich, fortified with the latest military technology of WWII-era, finally fell.
The loss of significant forces and militarily and economically vital region of East Prussia hastened Germany’s defeat.
The Soviet forces inflictedhuge losses on the Wehrmacht and completely severed Third Reich’s maritime supply lines, crippling logistics for the blockaded 'Courland Pocket'.
To commemorate the Heroic Victory in East Prussia, the medal 'For the Capture of Königsberg' was instituted in the USSR. The Medal was awarded to approximately 760'000 Red Army soldiers and officers.
Aftermath WWII, under the terms approved by the Allied Leaders at the #PotsdamConference, much of East Prussia was incorporated into Poland, while a third of East Prussia territory, including the city of Königsberg (the Kaliningrad Region), became part of the Soviet Union.
🎖 By the Executive Order of President of Russia Vladimir Putin (signed on November 17, 2025), a new memorial date was established in our country — April 9, the Day of the Heroic Assault and Capture of Königsberg (1945).
🎆On January 27, 1944, at 20:00 – for the first time in a long while, the evening sky over Leningrad was lit not by anti-aircraft searchlights, but by the bright flashes of a victory salute.
24 volleys from 324 guns thundered across the Mars Field, along the banks of the Neva River, and from the ships of the Baltic Fleet, marking the long-awaited end of the blockade of the hero city on the Neva.
💬From the Order of the Military Council of the Leningrad Front to the troops of the Leningrad Front, January 27, 1944:
Citizens of Leningrad! Brave and steadfast people of Leningrad!
Together with the troops of the Leningrad Front, you have defended our city. Through your heroic labour and unyielding endurance, overcoming all the hardships and suffering of the blockade, you forged the weapons of Victory over the enemy, giving all your strength to the cause.
In celebration of the Victory achieved and in honour of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the enemy blockade, today, 27 January, at 20:00, the City of Lenin salutes the valiant troops of the Leningrad Front with 24 artillery volleys from 324 guns.
💬From the article by the Leningrad branch of TASS, January 28, 1944:
The hero city, which for 28 months fought steadfastly and courageously against a ferocious enemy, has withstood an unparalleled siege and driven back the Nazi thugs. The warriors of Leningrad, continuing their offensive, are driving the enemy from our Soviet homeland.
In celebration of the Great Victory and in honour of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the enemy blockade, yesterday, 27 January, the City of Lenin saluted the valiant troops of the Leningrad Front.
The capital of our Fatherland, Moscow, which salutes the liberation of ever more cities, yesterday listened with special emotion to the salute – this time thundering from Leningrad itself.
In the darkest and most tragic days of the blockade, the people of Moscow always stood with the people of Leningrad in spirit. They admired their extraordinary resilience and courage, shared in their ordeals, and never wavered in their belief in Victory.
468 long days still remained until the final defeat of the Nazi invaders, and the Red Banner raised over the Reichstag. Yet 82 years ago, the people of Leningrad who had endured bombardment, hunger and unimaginable suffering of the siege had every right to celebrate a special Victory.
Moscow, which marked every military achievement with artillery salute, on that single occasion yielded this honour to the Northern Capital.
🏅Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the battle for Leningrad, for the freedom and independence of our Fatherland!
#Victory81
🏅 On January 12, 1943, the Red Army launched Operation "Iskra" (Operation "Spark"), which resulted in the breakthrough of the Siege of Leningrad. During the offensive, formations of the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts crushed the enemy’s defences and restored a land connection between the city and the mainland.
The Nazi blockade closed around Leningrad on September 8, 1941. More than 2.8 million people, including 400,000 children, were trapped in the besieged city. Its people endured the most severe conditions – a harsh winter, starvation, and constant air raids.
The Soviet High Command made several attempts to break the blockade: in autumn 1941, during the general counter-offensive in January 1942, and again in the summer and autumn of 1942. Favourable conditions for success emerged only in January 1943, when the main Wehrmacht forces had been redeployed to Stalingrad.
⚔️On January 18, 1943, after fierce fighting, Red Army units finally broke through the encirclement. A narrow 11-km corridor was formed along the southern shore of Lake Ladoga, enabling the supply of the city and the evacuation of civilians. By the end of January, the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts had pushed the enemy up to 12 km away from the Ladoga shoreline.
More than 300,000 troops took part in the offensive, supported by around 4,900 artillery pieces and mortars, over 600 tanks, and more than 800 aircraft.
🎖 For courage, resilience, and heroism, around 19,000 soldiers and officers of the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts, as well as sailors of the Baltic Fleet, were awarded orders and medals.
Although the complete lifting of the blockade and the full liberation of Leningrad occurred only on January 27, 1944, the significance of the January 1943 breakthrough cannot be overstated.
Soviet forces succeeded in partially lifting the siege and significantly improving conditions for the city’s residents. Just three weeks later, a railway line was built, allowing trains carrying food and ammunition to reach Leningrad – until then, the city had been connected to the mainland only by the legendary Road of Life.
The risk of German and Finnish forces linking up was neutralized, and the Red Army secured the strategic initiative on the Leningrad front.
#Victory81
🌟 January 7, 1942, marked the successful conclusion of the Soviet counter-offensive near Moscow. The battle became one of the decisive turning points of the Great Patriotic War and World War II as a whole. It strengthened the anti-Hitler coalition, compelling Japan and Turkey to refrain from entering the war.
The German command was convinced that the main Soviet forces had already been crushed and therefore did not anticipate a major counter-offensive. As a result, the enemy faltered and was forced into retreat. The Red Army went on to liberate Kalinin, Klin, Istra, Volokolamsk, and other towns near Moscow.
The counter-offensive involved more than 1 million Soviet soldiers, supported by thousands of artillery pieces, tanks, and aircraft, despite severe winter conditions reaching –30°C. Already on January 8, 1942, the maneuver expanded into a full-scale general offensive – the Rzhev-Vyazma strategic operation began.
As a result of the Battle of Moscow, the Wehrmacht suffered heavy losses – up to 500,000 casualties – marking its first major strategic defeat in World War II and shattering the myth of its invincibility. The enemy forces were pushed back 100-250 km from the Soviet capital.
#Victory81
🧧On May 6 this year, the Russian Embassy in Belgium, together with the Permanent Mission of Russia to the European Union, held a gala reception dedicated to the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War .
The event was attended by heads and staff of diplomatic missions from more than 50 countries of the Global Majority, representative offices of international and regional organizations, clergy of the Brussels-Belgian Archdiocese, representatives of Belgian expert and cultural circles, and Russian compatriots.
💬Opening the reception, Russian Ambassador to Belgium D.V. Gonchar emphasized that Victory Day is a sacred date in the history of our country.
"The enduring significance of Victory Day is difficult to overestimate. For us, it is a symbol of national triumph, national glory, but also of grief and remembrance. Victory over Nazi Germany was achieved at the cost of incredible sacrifices and heroic efforts, literally with the blood of all the peoples of the Soviet Union. Each of the 15 republics made a significant contribution, both through their participation in combat operations on the front lines and through their unparalleled labor feat in the rear, which enabled the soldiers to be supplied with weapons, equipment, and food. Russia will always cherish the memory of the great feat of the united Soviet people, honoring it as a story of valor, true patriotism, and fortitude."
Speaking about the allies, D.V. Gonchar highlighted China's decisive contribution to the defeat of militaristic Japan and recalled the joint celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in 2025, with the participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. The ambassador emphasized the role of the Global Majority in the fight against global evil. He also emphasized that the USSR and later Russia never downplayed the contribution of the Allies of the Anti-Hitler Coalition to the defeat of fascism.
"The same cannot be said of our Western 'friends,' who are literally trying to rewrite history before our very eyes, equating liberators and executioners, heroes and traitors. Eighty-one years ago, no one had any doubts about who won and who lost, who championed goodness, peace, and creation, and who was mired in hatred, Nazi theories, and dreams of their own superiority. Today, in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, in violation of international and bilateral obligations, Soviet memorials are being dismantled, a former SS soldier is being honored in the Canadian parliament, and Western countries are turning a blind eye to the revival of Nazi ideology in Ukraine. This is not the kind of world for which young men gave their lives on the battlefields of World War II."
💬In turn, Acting Permanent Representative of Russia to the EU K.K. Malayan called Victory Day Russia's main holiday and one of the most significant days in human history.
"We remember how, during the difficult war years, all anti-fascist forces, including the USSR, the USA, and Great Britain, were able to unite in the face of the fascist threat, despite their ideological differences. Unfortunately, today's European realities have become completely different. Our most important task is to prevent the falsification of history, which is especially important this year, as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg."
🥇As part of the event, the Russian Ambassador to Belgium, D.V. Gonchar, in a solemn ceremony, presented a personal congratulation from the President of the Russian Federation, V.V. Putin, to M.A. Volchenkova, a resident of besieged Leningrad living in Brussels, in connection with the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II.
🎞⭐Guests were treated to a photo exhibition, "Chronicler of a Great Feat: Yevgeny Khaldei," featuring unique wartime images by the legendary Soviet photojournalist.
🎶The real highlight of the evening was the creative duet’s performance of everyone’sfavorite songs from the war years .
#Victory81
🎆On January 27, 1944, at 20:00 – for the first time in a long while, the evening sky over Leningrad was lit not by anti-aircraft searchlights, but by the bright flashes of a victory salute.
24 volleys from 324 guns thundered across the Mars Field, along the banks of the Neva River, and from the ships of the Baltic Fleet, marking the long-awaited end of the blockade of the hero city on the Neva.
💬From the Order of the Military Council of the Leningrad Front to the troops of the Leningrad Front, January 27, 1944:
Citizens of Leningrad! Brave and steadfast people of Leningrad!
Together with the troops of the Leningrad Front, you have defended our city. Through your heroic labour and unyielding endurance, overcoming all the hardships and suffering of the blockade, you forged the weapons of Victory over the enemy, giving all your strength to the cause.
In celebration of the Victory achieved and in honour of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the enemy blockade, today, 27 January, at 20:00, the City of Lenin salutes the valiant troops of the Leningrad Front with 24 artillery volleys from 324 guns.
💬From the article by the Leningrad branch of TASS, January 28, 1944:
The hero city, which for 28 months fought steadfastly and courageously against a ferocious enemy, has withstood an unparalleled siege and driven back the Nazi thugs. The warriors of Leningrad, continuing their offensive, are driving the enemy from our Soviet homeland.
In celebration of the Great Victory and in honour of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the enemy blockade, yesterday, 27 January, the City of Lenin saluted the valiant troops of the Leningrad Front.
The capital of our Fatherland, Moscow, which salutes the liberation of ever more cities, yesterday listened with special emotion to the salute – this time thundering from Leningrad itself.
In the darkest and most tragic days of the blockade, the people of Moscow always stood with the people of Leningrad in spirit. They admired their extraordinary resilience and courage, shared in their ordeals, and never wavered in their belief in Victory.
468 long days still remained until the final defeat of the Nazi invaders, and the Red Banner raised over the Reichstag. Yet 82 years ago, the people of Leningrad who had endured bombardment, hunger and unimaginable suffering of the siege had every right to celebrate a special Victory.
Moscow, which marked every military achievement with artillery salute, on that single occasion yielded this honour to the Northern Capital.
🏅Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the battle for Leningrad, for the freedom and independence of our Fatherland!
#Victory81
🎙Address by President of Russia – Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin at the military parade marking the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945
📍Moscow, May 9, 2026
💬Vladimir Putin: I congratulate you on Victory Day – our sacred, radiant and most important holiday!
We sacredly honour the legacy and behests of the soldiers of Victory. Care for the Fatherland unites our entire country and all the people of Russia, while preserving the memory of the Great Patriotic War, its true history and real heroes is a matter of honour for us.
We will always remember the feat of the Soviet people – the fact that it was they who made the decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism, saved their country, saved the world, put an end to total and merciless evil, and restored sovereignty to those states that had capitulated to Hitler’s Germany and become obedient accomplices in its crimes.
June 22, 1941 is one of the most tragic and sorrowful dates in our history. This year marks 85 years since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.
The Nazis treacherously attacked the Soviet Union. They planned to seize the country and its vast resources, completely destroy its culture and our historical heritage, and ultimately exterminate, enslave and commit genocide against the entire multi-ethnic Soviet people – precisely all peoples, nations and ethnic groups of the Soviet Union.
To carry out these criminal objectives, forces were gathered from across Europe. Nazi strategists seemed to have meticulously accounted for everything – except one thing: what is known as Russian character and the strength of spirit of the Soviet people.
🕯We bow our heads before those who fell in battle. Before those who were tortured under occupation and in captivity, who died of starvation in besieged Leningrad, in other encircled cities and settlements. Before all those who gave their lives for the Motherland, for Russia. We bow our heads to the memory of sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends.
***
The great feat of the victorious generation inspires the warriors who are today carrying out the goals of the special military operation. They are confronting an aggressive force that is being armed and supported by the entire NATO.
☝️And despite this, our heroes are advancing.
Alongside Russian warriors stand workers and designers, engineers, scientists and inventors. They are carrying on the traditions of their predecessors, relying on modern combat experience to create advanced and unique weapons systems and launch their mass production.
I am strongly convinced that our cause is just! We are together! Victory has always been and will always be ours!
Glory to the victorious people! Glory to our veterans! Glory to the Armed Forces of Russia!
Happy Victory Day! Hurrah!
🥇#Victory81
🗓️ 1050 дней войны 🩸
Тем временем, общие потери РФ в Украине несколько раз превышают совокупные последствия всех предыдущих войн, в которых участвовала Россия после #WW2 (в том числе в составе СССР).
По оценкам аналитиков американского Центрa стратегических и международных исследований, темпы потерь РФ также гораздо выше в Украине, чем во время какой-либо советской или российской войны после Второй мировой.
Так, в Украине российская армия только в первый год войны каждый месяц теряла убитыми от 5000 до 5800 военных. При этом за почти 15 лет войн в Чечне погибли от 13 000 до 25 000 военных, то есть от 95 до 185 солдат в месяц.
Средний показатель суточных потерь РФ декабря 2024 г. составил 1570 человек убитыми и ранеными, что является пятым месяцем подряд, когда российские войска несут новые рекордные средние суточные потери. 19 декабря 2024 года был зафиксирован новый ❕рекорд военных потерь — 2200 человек за один день.
Российские власти могут в любой момент вывести свои войска из Украины и предотвратить дальнейшие страдания россиян и украинцев.
#Victory81
🌟 On May 8, 1949, the iconic monument in the Soviet War Memorial in #TreptowerPark in Berlin — aka the Soldier-Liberator — was unveiled, right there, at the sacred site of the mass grave of 7'000 Red Army soldiers and officers who perished in the fierce Battle of Berlin in April-May 1945.
This iconic #WW2-era memorial is one of the most worldwide recognizable symbol of the Soviet people’s Great Victory over Nazism. The bronze statue of a Soviet soldier, carefully holding a rescued German girl to his chest and breaking the Nazi swastika with his sword, embodies the noble mission of the Red Army, which liberated Europe from the shackles of Hitler's occupation and put #WWII to its final end.
Inside the foundation of the #LiberatorSoldier monument, there is a memorial hall crowned with images of the Order of Victory. Adorning the wall, there is an inscription:
Today, it is globally acknowledged that, through their selfless struggle, the Soviet people saved European civilisation from annihilation by fascists.
This stands as the Soviet peoples' historic feat for humanity.
***
The architectural design of the memorial in Treptower Park commemorates the heroic deed of Red Army soldier Nikolay Masalov. On April 30, 1945, during the fierce street combat in Berlin, the Red Army soldier risked his life to rescue a three-year-old German girl from Nazi gunfire.
The memorial complex took three years to build, from 1946 to 1949. The project was coordinated by famous Soviet monumental sculptor Yevgeny Vuchetich, architect Yakov Belopolsky and artist Anatoly Gorpenko.
The very site for the future monument in Berlin was chosen for a particular reason. Treptower Park, located along the Spree River, had been a cherished public park for Berliners. The architects envisioned the memorial as an enduring testament to remind to future generations of who had truly defeated the Third Reich and brought back freedom to the German people and all European nations.
The historical importance of the memorial in preserving the memory of the Soviet soldiers’ heroism can be seen in the architects' note for the initial sketches for the Soviet monuments in Berlin. The note reads, in part:
When designing the projects, the objective must be to create enduring, monumental structures that embody the idea of commemorating the glorious memory of the Soviet Army’s liberating mission, for which these soldiers gave their lives…
The TREPTOWER monument must be especially grand.
German sculptors also contributed to its creation, while the choice of building material — the granite taken from the ruins of the defeated Hitler's Reichskanzlei — was imbued with powerful symbolism.
🎖 The monument was officially unveiled on May 8, 1949. During the ceremony, Berlin’s military commandant, Major General Alexander Kotikov, delivered his famous address:
This monument in the heart of Europe, in Berlin, will forever remind the peoples of the world when, how, and at what cost Victory was achieved, our Motherland was saved and the present and future generations of humanity were preserved.
***
Each and every year on May 9, despite the authorities’ ongoing efforts to stifle our sacred #VictoryDay commemorations, thousands of compassionate citizens — our compatriots, and Germans alike — gather at Treptower Park to cherish the memory of Liberators who saved the world from Nazism.
💬 Russian MFA Spokeswoman MariaZakharova (excerpt from briefing of April 24, 2026):
This memorial features the statue of a Soviet soldier holding a German girl.
Not a Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Tajik, Armenian, Azerbaijani, or Jewish girl, but a German girl.
This, I believe, represents the highest expression of humanism: a Soviet soldier is portrayed as a liberator, first and foremost, of the German people from Nazism, even though his own family had been destroyed, his home obliterated, and Soviet towns and villages burned down.
Yet he protects a German girl.
#WeRemember
#HistoryOfDiplomacy
🗓 On February 4, 1945, the Yalta Conference of the Leaders of the anti-Hitler coalition — Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin D. Roosevelt — officially commenced.
The #YaltaConference stands as one of the most significant summits of the 'Big Three' Leaders during #WW2. The landmark talks in Yalta came to symbolise the successful cooperation of Moscow, Washington, and London in their common fightagainst the terrible evil the mankind had ever faced —the Nazi ideology.
The historic agreements reached at the Forum defined the foundations of the post-war Yalta-Potsdam system of international relations, whose legal basis would be the #UNCharter.
💬 Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova:
The participants in the Yalta Conference managed to overcome their differences, and, acting in the spirit of true solidarity, mutual respect and trust, abandoned their fleeting interests for the sake of defeating the common enemy and achieving a common victory, peace and freedom for all countries and peoples.
***
🌟 By early 1945, the Red Army had fully liberated the Soviet Union from the Nazi invaders and was mounting a decisive offensive: by January, the Nazi troops had been expelled from Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz, and most of Poland. The Soviet forces had secured strategically important bridgehead on the western bank of the Oder river and were preparing for the final battle of #WWII — the fight for the Reich’s capital — Berlin.
As the Red Army advanced rapidly from the Vistula-Oder direction, UK-American units were pushing towards the Rhine river. Despite fierce resistance from elite units of the Nazi war machine, Germany’s defeat was inevitable.
With the common Victory approaching, the discussing issues the post-war world order became a top priority for the Allied Powers. Thus, it was decided to convene a major conference, with the Soviet city of Yalta chosen as the venue (February 4-11, 1945).
A central focus of the #CrimeanConference was the post-war future of the defeated Germany. The Allies reaffirmed their commitment to the eradication of German militarism and Nazism and to ensuring that “Germany will never again be able to disturb the peace of the world.” It was also agreed that Germany would be obliged to pay reparations for the damage inflicted by its aggression.
During the Yalta negotiations, the 'Big Three' Leaders reached a compromise on the issue ofPoland’s borders.The Soviet delegation firmly advocated for Poland’s fundamental interests, upholding its right to independence and sovereignty.
Churchill later described the Soviet Union’s historic role in liberating Poland from Nazism in his memoirs:
But for the prodigious exertions and sacrifices of Russia,
Poland was doomed to utter destruction
at the hands of the Germans.
Not only Poland as a State and as a nation, but the
Poles as a race were doomed by Hitler to be destroyed
or reduced to a servile station
The considerable growth in the USSR’s international prestige significantly influenced the course and outcomes of the Yalta negotiations. This was due, in large part, to the Red Army’s remarkable successes on the battlefield.
The image of the Soviet soldier as a Liberator was cemented, and the world recognised Soviet people's immense Sacrifice and Achievement in WWII
The Conference produced several crucial documents, including the Declaration on Liberated Europe, which helped shape the international system for decades. The framework for the future #UnitedNations also took clearer form. Following Yalta, the Soviet Union secured agreement on the “principle of unanimity” among the five permanent UN Security Council members, embodied in the right of veto — #UNCharterIsOurRules.
The Yalta agreements strengthened the unity of the anti-Hitler coalition in the final stages of World War II and contributed to the ultimate common victory over Germany. In the post-war years, ensuring the implementation of the Yalta decisions became a key objective of Soviet diplomacy.
#Victory81#WeWereAllies