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⚔️April 25, 1945 – the #ElbeDay – a memorable date in Russia’s military history. Around midday, by the town of Torgau on the Elbe River, Soviet troops advancing into Germany linked up for the first time with American forces. That moment marked the high point of relations between the USSR and the US during the Second World War. The Soviet unit was led by Senior Lieutenant Grigory Goloborodko, while the American patrol that crossed the Elbe was commanded by First Lieutenant Albert Kotzebue. 🤝 The handshake between the two lieutenants made headlines around the world and became one of the defining images of the Allied #Victory over Nazism. One of the direct participants in that first meeting, US Army Private Joe Polowsky, later recalled: “There were tears in our eyes. It was a moment of joy, but also, perhaps, a moment in which some already sensed that the future would not be without difficulties”. The soldiers embraced and vowed never to forget that meeting. It came to symbolise what would later be known as the Spirit of the Elbe. 🎥©Russian Military Historical Society #Victory81#WeWereAllies

🗓 Today we commemorate #ElbeDay, dedicated to the historic encounter between Soviet and American forces on the banks of the Elbe River. On April 25, 1945, the two allied armies met for the first time near Torgau in Germany. This contact marked an important step toward the end of World War II in Europe, heralding the final downfall of the Nazi regime. Watch the documentary "Encounters at the Elbe: Springtime Before the Cold War" to explore and take a close look at the full story and key details of that landmark event imbued by the spirit of the soldier's brotherhood and hope for a lasting and happy peace. #WeWereAllies

🗓 Today we commemorate #ElbeDay, dedicated to the historic encounter between Soviet and American forces on the banks of the Elbe River. On April 25, 1945, the two allied armies met for the first time near Torgau in Germany. This contact marked an important step toward the end of World War II in Europe, heralding the final downfall of the Nazi regime. Watch the documentary "Encounters at the Elbe: Springtime Before the Cold War" to explore and take a close look at the full story and key details of that landmark event imbued by the spirit of the soldier's brotherhood and hope for a lasting and happy peace. #WeWereAllies

〘🫖〙#Victory

On May 8, 2020, the autonomous deep-sea vehicle Vityaz-D completed a historic descent into the Mariana Trench, reaching the Challenger Deep — the deepest known point of the World Ocean. 🇷🇺 During the mission, a #Victory Banner was also deployed at the bottom of the trench, marking the anniversary of the victory over Nazism. The deep submersion drone Vityaz was the first-ever crewless vehicle to have reached the deepest point of the world ocean on May 8 at 22:34 Moscow time. The mission was carried out fully automatically based on a pre-installed program. After deployment, the vehicle operated independently, executing its task and transmitting collected data to the surface control center in real time via a hydroacoustic communication channel. The system includes the main and auxiliary UUVs, a seabed station, and ship-based control and support equipment, enabling a full cycle of deep-sea operations: Key facts: 🔹 Max dive depth: 12,000 m 🔹 System includes 2 UUVs (main & auxiliary), seabed station, ship-based support equipment and spare parts 🔹 Weight: 5,600 kg 🔹 Length: 4 m 🔹 Diameter: 1.5 m 🔹 Equipped to measure temperature, pressure and electrical conductivity of the marine environment 🔹 AI-enabled navigation allows obstacle avoidance and movement in confined deep-sea environments All components of the system are Russian-made, and the vehicle is designed for autonomous scientific exploration of extreme ocean depths without human intervention.

🧧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

🎙Ambassador Andrei Kelin's address on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 💬 Dear veterans and compatriots, The 9 May celebrations have not faded with the passing of the years. They still radiate the light that illuminated Europe and the rest of the world in the spring of 1945. As we mark the 81st anniversary of Victory, we recall the scale on which last year's jubilee was celebrated. Yet, 2026 has its own unique legacy of remembrance. This year marks 85 years since the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, and 80 years since the Nuremberg trials of the leading Nazi war criminals. Between these two dates lies a journey — from catastrophe to Victory, and from Victory to justice. It is the journey made by our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. We prevailed in that war, yet Russia has never diminished the contribution of the Allies to the common Victory. 🤝 We honour the heroism of the British soldiers and the courage of sailors who served on the Arctic convoys. Sadly, Frank Chester, the oldest British war veteran, passed away this spring. He served aboard a corvette in convoy operations and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Fewer and fewer living witnesses to those events remain. Yet, the memory of our peoples' shared struggle endures in historical records, official documents, and the decisions that shaped the post-war world order. One of the most significant of those decisions was the Nuremberg Tribunal's verdict. For the first time in history, a war of aggression was recognised as the gravest international crime, and the ideology of Nazism was deemed illegal and immoral. Based on these findings, Russia this year marked for the first time the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People, perpetrated by Nazi Germany and its accomplices. Today, however, Nazism is being revived both in Germany and certain other states to the west of Russia. Forgetting the Nuremberg’s lessons is to risk repeating precisely what the Tribunal sought to prevent. But our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers understood: retribution for genocide is inevitable, and that the enemy shall be defeated. That conviction sustained them even in their darkest hours. ☝️ Our duty – to both the survivors and the fallen – is to preserve the truth and pass it on. This will ensure that each succeeding generation understands what stands behind the date of 9 May, and the price paid for this Victory. I am confident that the stories that our compatriots here in Britain tell their children – stories of their ancestors and of the terrible struggle fought for life on Earth itself – will serve this purpose. The Embassy will continue to support all those who cherish their ties with their Motherland and remember their roots. We pay particular tribute, of course, to the veterans living in the United Kingdom. Every year, we congratulate them and say: "Thank you". Happy Victory Day, dear friends! #Victory81

💐Following the Victory Parade, President Vladimir Putin and the foreign Leaders who attended the celebrations took part in a solemn ceremony and laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – honouring the Soviet heroes who gave their lives to free humanity from Nazism. The ceremony was attended by: • President of the Republic of Abkhazia Badra Gunba • President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko • President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev • President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith • Supreme Ruler of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim • President of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik • President of Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Sinisa Karan • President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Nenad Stevandic • President of the Republic of South Ossetia Alan Gagloyev • President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev #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

#Victory81 🛰On May 9, Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station – Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikayev and Andrey Fedyaev – send their greetings on Victory Day! 💬 81 years ago, our forefathers defeated a ruthless enemy that sought to wipe entire nations off the face of the Earth. It is to our country that the world owes its liberation from the scourge of fascism. From aboard the International Space Station, one can clearly see just how beautiful and fragile our planet is – and how important it is to cherish what our forefathers preserved for us. Victory in the Great Patriotic War is an example of the courage, resilience and heroism shown to the entire world by the people of our country. Thanks to them, today we can dream, explore space and build the future. Today, we bow our heads before the feat of those who stopped the enemy and achieved the Great Victory. We pay tribute to those who forged weapons in the rear, despite hunger, bombings and devastation. We thank those who rebuilt the country after the war – a country that, just 16 years later, became the first to send a human into space. May the memory of these great feats live forever in our hearts and inspire us and our descendants to new accomplishments. 🌟Happy Victory Day!

🌟On the occasion of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, President of Russia Vladimir Putin sent congratulatory messages to: the Leaders of 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan 🇦🇲 Armenia 🇧🇾 Belarus 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan 🇹🇯 Tajikistan 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan 🤝 Abkhazia 🤝 South Ossetia the peoples of • Georgia • Moldova *** ✍️ President Putin emphasized that on this day, we pay tribute with gratitude and respect to our fathers and grandfathers, who fought shoulder to shoulder on the front lines and worked tirelessly on the home front, bringing the long-awaited Victory over the Nazi invaders closer at the cost of immeasurable sacrifice and hardship. In his congratulatory messages to foreign Leaders and their citizens, the President of Russia conveyed heartfelt greetings and sincere appreciation to veterans of the Great Patriotic War and home-front workers, wishing them sound health, high spirits and longevity. In his addresses to the peoples of Georgia and Moldova, Vladimir Putin called for preserving the memory of the harsh wartime years of 1941-1945 and passing on to future generations the noble traditions of friendship and mutual assistance that bind the peoples of our countries. #Victory81

#Victory81 📄The list of Heads of foreign delegations arriving in Moscow to take part in Victory Day celebrations has been published: • President of the Republic of Abkhazia Badra Gunba and his wife • President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko • President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith • Supreme Ruler of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim • Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico • President of the Republic of South Ossetia Alan Gagloyev • President of Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Sinisa Karan • President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Nenad Stevandic and his wife • President of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik and his wife