Russian MFA 🇷🇺

🎉 On May 9, on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian Embassy in India hosted a solemn rally with the participation of Ambassador of Russia Denis Alipov, heads of the diplomatic missions of friendly countries, representatives of Russian organizations’ foreign offices in India and members of their families. 🇦🇿🇦🇲🇧🇾🇰🇿🇰🇬🇷🇺🇹🇯🇺🇿 🌹 As part of the event, flowers were laid at the memorial stele and the “St. George’s Ribbon” campaign was held. 🔸@RusEmbIndia #Victory81 #WeRemember #VictoryDay

🎖️On 9 May 2026, to mark the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, a ceremony was held at the communal cemetery in Evere, Brussels, where wreaths were laid at the memorials of Soviet citizens who fell in the struggle against Nazism, as well as of members of the Belgian Resistance. The event was attended by Ambassador of Russia to the Kingdom of Belgium Denis Gonchar, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the EU and Euratom Karen Malayan, heads of diplomatic missions of CIS Member States and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Archdiocese of Brussels and Belgium. The participants of the ceremony honoured the memory of the fallen heroes and paid tribute to the heroic act of those who liberated Europe. The staff of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the EU traditionally joined the annual nationwide Immortal Regiment campaign by organizing an exhibition featuring the photographs of relatives who took part in the Great Patriotic War. ❗Preserving and protecting the historical memory have always been and remain among the key priorities of the military memorial work of Russian diplomatic missions. Commemorative events with the participation of Russian diplomats are also taking place in other Belgian towns where burial sites of Soviet soldiers are located. Eternal memory and glory to the Soviet soldiers who bravely fought for the Great Victory and to all those who struggled for a world free from fascism. No one is forgotten, nothing is forgotten! #Victory81#WeRemember

🎙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

🚩The Immortal Regiment in Ethiopia 💐The 'Immortal Regiment' march took place at the Russian Embassy in Ethiopia, commemorating the 81st Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. More than 100 participants carried in their hands portraits of their relatives who crushed Nazism and sacrificed their lives in the name of defending our Motherland from this «brown plague». 🎗We bow our heads in the bright memory of those who defended our Motherland and gave us the opportunity to live. #Victory81#WeRemember

🇷🇺🇸🇰President of Russia Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico, who arrived in Moscow to take part in the Victory Day celebrations(Moscow, May 9, 2026) 💬Vladimir Putin: Last year, on this festive day, you and I met in Moscow on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, and we are grateful to you for deciding to be with us again today. I know that, as last time, there were certain difficulties with your visit to Moscow. You have just briefly told me that this time it was a little easier. What matters is that you are here, and we are very grateful to you for that. Your consistent position on preserving the historical truth about the events of the Second World War and the role of the Red Army in liberating Europe from Nazism commands respect. ☝️I would like to note that Slovak fighters who resisted the Nazi forces also made their contribution to the Great Victory. We remember the events of the Slovak National Uprising of August 29, 1944. We are grateful to the leadership and people of Slovakia for their respectful treatment of monuments and burial sites of Soviet soldiers who fell in battles against the Nazis on Slovak soil. I know that the central military memorial cemetery of the Red Army in Michalovce is expected to be solemnly opened soon. Thank you very much for paying such attention to this matter. For many years, including during your previous terms as Prime Minister, Russia-Slovakia relations were marked by a high level of political dialogue and steady cooperation. Of course, we understand that today they are complicated by events related to what is happening in Ukraine, as well as by the foreign policy climate and the confrontational line which, as we see it, is being imposed on all of us by the EU and NATO. At the same time, your Government is striving to pursue a sovereign foreign policy and to build a pragmatic course towards Russia. We welcome the gradual restoration of bilateral cooperation, which was effectively frozen through the efforts of the previous Slovak authorities. 🤝 I can say here as well: we will do everything to meet the Slovak Republic’s demand for energy resources, just as we stand ready to cooperate in other areas of mutual interest. Read in full #RussiaSlovakia#Victory81

🇷🇺 Happy #VictoryDay! 🇷🇺 #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!

🔴#LIVE from the #RedSquare: Parade marking the 81st Anniversary of the Victory over Nazism 🔴X (ex-Twitter) 🔴Facebook 🔴RT English 🔴Ruptly #Victory81

🌟#SovietSoldierSavedTheWorld #Victory81

#Victory81 🌟 On May 9, 1945, at 0:43 am Moscow time (May 8, 22:43 CET), the Instrument of UnconditionalSurrender of the Nazi Germanywas signed in Karlshorst, Berlin. That document heralded the #GreatVictory of the Soviet people over the Nazi Reich, marking the final end of #WWII on European ToO, and the ultimate collapse of Hitler's fascism. The surrender was accepted by Marshal Georgy Zhukov on behalf of the Soviet Union and Deputy Commander of the Allied forces Marshal Arthur Tedder on behalf of the Western Allies. From the German side, the Instrument was signed by Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, Colonel General Hans-Jurgen Stumpff, & Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg. 🎙 At 2:30 am of May 9, in Moscow, newscaster YuryLevitan announced the text of the German Instrument of Surrender to the people of the Soviet Union, proclaiming May 9 as Victory Day: The Great Patriotic War, which the Soviet people waged against the Nazi invaders, has been victoriously concluded. Fascist Germany has been crushed. Eternal glory to the Heroes who fell fighting for the freedom and independence of our Motherland. <...> 🖋 From the memoirs by military correspondent Konstantin Simonov: Zhukov stands up and says: The German delegation may leave the hall. The Germans stand up. Keitel… turns on his heel and leaves. And instantaneously, all tension in the room relaxes, and everybody exhales in unison. The act of surrender has been signed, and the war is over. *** Nazi Germany’s final & unconditional surrender to the Allies in Karlshorst was preceded by several local capitulations of the Nazi troops along various frontlines. Moreover, in April 1945, certain Nazi military leaders, who were aware that the Third Reich’s collapse was imminent, fearing justice for their crimes, sought secret talks with US-UK command, trying to divide the Allied anti-Hitler coalition. Desperate to surrender to the Western allies, on May 5, the Nazi delegation arrived in the French city of Reims, where the headquarters of the Allied command was located. There, on May 7, the Act of Military Surrender was signed. However, article 4 of the document did not rule out the signing of another, definitive act: “This act of military surrender… will be superseded by any general instrument of surrender… applicable to Germany and the German troops as a whole.” Due to that, the Soviet leadership deemed the Reims document only as a preliminary document, believing that the official surrender of the Nazis had to be ensured in Berlin — the city where the Nazi aggression originated from. At the Soviet government’s request, the main and final ceremony of surrender took place. On the night of May 9, the German Instrument of Surrender was signed in Karlshorst. The Nazi government was dissolved. The defeated German troops laid down arms. #WW2 in Europe was finally over. It ended with the greatest triumph of the Soviet people. Nazism was defeated. The Reich was no more. 💬 Russian MFA Spokeswoman MariaZakharova(excerpt from a briefing, May 7, 2026): This May 9 marks the 81st Anniversary of defeating Nazi Germany. This day is a celebration of triumph of life, freedom, and independence for all the peoples of the post-Soviet countries. <...> None of us was meant to survive. But we did survive because our forefathers prevailed. The cost of our common Victory — 27 million lives of our compatriots, representatives of all the peoples and republics of the Soviet Union, who died defending our Motherland <...> Twenty-seven million lives lost. Those who died in captivity, in ghettos, were taken into slavery, died of starvation, or fell victim to other acts of genocide. We remember them all. And we will keep their memory alive.