Russian Consulate in Cape Town

#Victory80 🗓 80 years ago, on April 16, 1945, the Berlin Offensive — one of the Red Army’s key strategic operations during #WWII — commenced. The operation resulted in the finaldefeat of the enemy’s Berlin group of forces and, with Hitler’s war machine being completely crushed. The Soviet forces took the capital of the Third Reich — #Berlin. The Instrument of Unconditional Surrender of Nazi Germany was signed — the document that heralded the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. *** 🌟 By spring 1945, the Red Army successfully carried out a series of offensive operations aimed at liberating the countries and peoples of Central and Eastern Europe from the Nazi invaders. Hitler’s troops and their henchmen were expelled from Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, and Poland; Vienna and the capital of modern Slovakia, Bratislava, saved from the Nazi plague. Nevertheless, WWII was far from end. The final battle for the liberation of Europe from the Nazi plague, the Battle of Berlin, was coming. *** By mid-April, 1945, the Soviet forces — having liberated Poland from the Nazis — consolidated positions along the Oder and Neisse rivers and started preparations to launch the offensive on Berlin. Mere dozens of kilometres separated the Red Army from the capital of Hitler’s Germany. The enemy installed deeply echeloned defences and deployed elite Wehrmacht units against the Soviet forces. To attack Berlin, the Soviet Supreme High Command deployed forces from the 1st Belorussian Front (commanded by Marshal Georgy Zhukov); the 2nd Belorussian Front (Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky); and the 1st Ukrainian Front (Marshal Ivan Konev). ⚔️ The Berlin Offensive began at 5:00 AM on April 16 with a massive artillery fire. Following this, 143 powerful spotlights were activated to blind and disorient the enemy. Infantry and armoured units then launched their assault. Enemy resistance intensified as Soviet forces advanced. Fierce fighting erupted at the Seelow Heights — a critical defensive point just 60 kilometres away from Berlin — where the Wehrmacht’s 9th Army, blocking the direct route to the Reich’s capital, was destroyed. Within several days, the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian Fronts breached the Oder-Neisse defensive line of the Nazis, advanced 30 kilometres towards Berlin, and started encircling the city to destroy its garrison. • April 20: Red Army units reached Berlin. Soviet long-range artillery started shelling, with brutal tank battles erupting on the city’s outskirts. • April 25: The 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian Fronts linked up west of the city, completing the encirclement of the enemy’s Berlin group of Nazi troops. • April 29: Fierce fighting started in the heart of Berlin, where Germany’s highest governmental and military authorities were located. During the storming of the Reichstag on the night of April 30 — May 1, the legendary #VictoryBanner was raised — a symbol of the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazism. • May 2: Berlin’s garrison surrendered. By May 5, the Nazi resistance was crushed. A total of 134,000 German soldiers and officers were captured. ✍️ On the night of May 8–9, Marshal Zhukov and the Allied representatives accepted Germany’s unconditional surrender at Karlshorst. So, WWII in Europe ended. *** 🎖The Berlin Operation saw the Red Army not only crush the last major and most elite Wehrmacht force but also liberate approximately 200'000 prisoners from Nazi concentration camps within the combat zone. Over 600 Soviet soldiers were awarded the title #HeroOftheSovietUnion for their valour.

🏅 On March 29, 1942, during the harshest period of the Siege of Leningrad, the first partisan convoy carrying food supplies reached the besieged city. Braving enemy lines, the partisans managed to break through the front and deliver 42 tonnes of life-saving provisions to those starving in Leningrad. The blockade had been sealed in September 1941, trapping more than 2.5 million people inside the city, including 400'000 children inside. They endured horrific hunger, relentless bombings took a heavy toll, and the harsh winter added to their suffering. The Road of Life had yet to be established. The situation was also dire in the occupied Pskov and Novgorod regions, where Nazi forces carried out mass executions and deportations to labour camps. Yet, resistance never ceased. Deep behind enemy lines, the Soviet people formed the first partisan stronghold of the Great Patriotic War — the Partisan Land. Upon learning of the desperate conditions in Leningrad, the partisans resolved to help the starving and freezing residents of the city. In early March, they assembled a supply convoy carrying 28 tonnes of flour and over 14 tonnes of other essential provisions. To reach the city, the partisans had to break through two heavily fortified German defensive lines: first, the encirclement around the Partisan Land, and then the main frontline. The convoy travelled only at night, hiding their sleds and horses in the forests during the day to avoid detection. After covering over 100 kilometres behind enemy lines, the convoy successfully delivered vital food supplies to Leningrad. These 42 tonnes of supplies saved countless lives at a time when thousands of people were dying each day. ✉️ Along with the provisions, a letter to the city’s residents was included: “We stand with you, dear friends, comrades in arms... Greetings to you, our hero-city, our mighty Leningrad!” 🕯 The Partisan Land ceased to exist in September 1942. The Nazis burned villages to the ground and massacred the civilians who had lived there. Nearly all the heroes who had risked their lives to bring food to Leningrad perished. To honour their sacrifice, March 29 is commemorated in the Leningrad region as Partisan Glory Day. #Victory80#WeRemember

⭐ The Consul General of Russia in Cape Town Mr. Malenko presented the commemorative medal "80 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" to the Arctic Convoy veteran Joseph Wilkinson and congratulated him on the upcoming holiday. 📝 Durning World War II Arctic convoys departed from the United Kingdom, Iceland and North America to deliver vital supplies to northern ports of the Soviet Union. During these operations 85 merchant ships and 16 Royal Navy warships were lost. 📝 Joseph Wilkinson, who joined the Royal Navy in 1943 at the age of 17, made a significant contribution to the overall Victory. He served for seven years as a radio operator on a corvette and participated in convoy protection missions heading to Murmansk. 🇷🇺 The veteran expressed gratitude for the attention shown to him and for the contribution to preserving the memory of Victory. Family members of Joseph Wilkinson were also present at the ceremony. 👏🏻 We sincerely wish him and his family good health and many more years of life. #Victory80#WeRemember#RussiaSouthAfrica

🗓 81 years ago, the events of critical importance for Europe took place. On 26 March 1944, as part of the Uman–Botoșani offensive, the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front led by Marshal Ivan Konev reached the Prut River that constituted the state border between the USSR and Romania. The Allies of the Anti-Hitler Coalition persistently asked to advance further and not to stop fighting against Nazi Germany and its henchmen. In the night of March 27, the Red Army crossed the Soviet-Romanian border. Those developments effectively paved the way for the liberation of Central and Eastern Europe from the German invaders. More than one million Red Army soldiers gave their lives in the struggle to save the European nations enslaved by the Nazis. Regretfully, the memory of World War II on a regular basis falls under the manipulation of Western countries that seek to rewrite history to serve their geopolitical interests. Many European politicians shamelessly generate false facts and assessments that completely distort not only the role of the Soviet Union but also, more broadly, the causes and nature of World War II. ❗️It is our common duty to preserve historical truth and honour the memory of the heroes who sacrificed themselves for the sake of peace and freedom for all. #Victory80#WeRemember

On February 19, 2025, an exhibition dedicated to the 81st anniversary of the lifting of the Siege of Leningrad was opened in Cape Town. The event was organized by the Russian Consulate General with the support of the management of the Castle of Good Hope. The exhibition, prepared by the Russian Presidential National Center for Historical Memory in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN, was ceremoniously opened in the presence of distinguished guests, including members of the diplomatic corps, local activists, veterans of the ANC’s military wing, and representatives of the "Volunteers of Victory" movement. The event also featured a screening of the film “Nuremberg“ (2023), dedicated to the Nuremberg Trials. A key theme of the event was the recognition of the crimes committed by the Nazi regime during World War II. Consul General A. Malenko emphasized that "the factual evidence presented at the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi crimes against the civilian population of the Soviet Union and Poland, along with the legal assessment, clearly point to these acts as genocide, particularly in the occupied territories of the USSR and Poland." Additionally, the prospects for cooperation between Russia and the Republic of South Africa within the BRICS framework were discussed, including the creation of an independent payment system and a single currency, which would strengthen financial sovereignty and contribute to the development of a fairer multipolar world. The exhibition will be on display at the Castle of Good Hope, and we invite all interested parties to visit. #RussianMFA#RussiaSouthAfrica#Victory80

#Victory80 🌟 February 2, 1943, one of the most brutal battles of #WWII and all of history — the Battle of Stalingrad — concluded. For 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ days and nights the Battle of Stalingrad raged on the banks of the Don and the Volga rivers, and in the city proper, or rather what was left of it following merciless Nazi bombardments and stubborn defender fighting for every street, alley and house. The battle itself surpassed in scope and intensity all prior battles of #WWII. During that battle, more than 2.1 million people fought on both sides. By the end of June 1942, the Nazis concentrated in the strip of land from Kursk to Taganrog on the front of 600-650 kilometers up to 35% of infantry, over 50% of armour and motorized divisions of the total number of Wehrmacht troops deployed on the Soviet-German front. During the planning of the Stalingrad operation, the enemy had several objectives: to gain a foothold on the Volga River and thus deprive the #SovietUnion of control over one of the most important transportation arteries of the country. The capture of #Stalingrad, according to the assessment of the Nazi military command, would open the way for the Wehrmacht to the Caucasus, where the Germans hoped to obtain the most important resource for making the war machine continue — oil fields. Traditionally, according to the historians, the Battle was divided into two stages: • Defensive phase: from July 17 to November 18, 1942; • Offensive phase: from November 19, 1942 to February 2, 1943. During the first stage, July 17 - November 18, 1942, the Red Army had to conduct defensive operations and engaged the enemy in fierce street battles directly in the city. The forces of the 62nd and 64th Soviet armies, led by Vassily Chuikov, commander of the 62nd Army, engaged the troops of the 6th Army of the Wehrmacht under the command of Lieutenant General Paulus. By mid-November 1942, as a result of stubborn resistance and the deployment of the Red Army reserves favorable conditions were created for launching the counteroffensive. The plan for the operation code-named#Uranus was developed under the leadership of Army General Georgy Zhukov and Colonel General Alexander Vasilevsky. During the large-scale counteroffensive at Stalingrad (November 19, 1942 — February 2, 1943), Soviet forces conducted the operation #Ring, during which the Red Army managed to drive Paulus's 6th Army into a “cauldron” between the Don and Volga rivers. Realizing the futility of further action, by the end of January the Nazi units began to surrender en masse. On January, 31, General Paulus (promoted by Hitler to to General-Field Marshal), together with other German generals and officers at Stalingrad finally surrendered. OnFebruary 2, the last pockets of Nazi resistance were eliminated. The #BattleOfStalingrad ended with a complete victory of the Red Army. For the first time ever the all-consuming Nazi war machine was weighed, measured and found wanting. This marked a turning point not only in the the Great Patriotic War, but that of the entire #WWII. In Stalingrad, Wehrmacht and its auxiliary forces from the Axis lost 1/4 of all troops deployed by the Reich on the Eastern front. Total enemy losses amount to ~1.5 million soldiers and officers. From that moment forward thestrategic initiative was on the side of the Red Army. The Victory in Stalingrad created favourable conditions for further full-scale counteroffensive of Soviet forces to expel the enemy from the Nazi-occupied territory of the USSR. 🌐 The defeat of the bulk of the enemy troops not only shocked the world and significantly raised the international prestige of the Soviet Union and its Armed Forces, but also contributed to the strengthening and tightening of the anti-Hitler coalition. 🎖 Victory in the Battle of Stalingrad was in large achieved through superior strategy and tactics, but also due to mass heroism of Soviet soldiers, officers and hard work of all those on the home front. 112 participants of the Battle were awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union. #WeRemember

The Siege of Leningrad is the history of the entire country. The siege of Leningrad lasted from September 8, 1941, to January 27, 1944. The city was doomed to die from hunger, cold, and constant bombings— this we know from official documents of the Third Reich. An unprecedented example of Nazi crimes that leaves no doubt about the truly misanthropic nature of their policies. A planned act of genocide—a legal assessment established by the court, a fact that cannot be revised or doubted. The military, economic, and political leadership of Nazi Germany developed special directive documents (the "Ost Plan”, the "Oldenburg Plan”), authorizing the physical destruction of people, the use of impunity in violence against civilians and prisoners of war, and the organization of mass mortality due to starvation. The evacuation of Leningrad’s residents was only possible in winter—starting on November 22, 1941, the ice road across Lake Ladoga was opened. Thus, 1 million people were evacuated from the city along the "Road of Life." Leningrad was not alone. The responsibility for saving the children from the siege was felt by the entire country. #Victory80

100 days until the celebration of Great Victory Day! We remember. We are proud. We are grateful. #Victory80

Only on September 8, 1941, the Nazis dropped more than six thousand bombs on the besieged Leningrad. The smoke from the fires filled the streets, buildings were burning. During these days, Leningrad's firefighters took on their dangerous and difficult duty. The quarter of the city's fire brigade was made up of women who replaced the men who had gone to the front. It was not an easy job. During the blockade, the Nazis dropped more than 100,000 bombs and more heavy shells on the city, the number of fires exceeded 13,000. Two thousand Leningrad firefighters died defending the city. For their heroism, the Leningrad fire brigade was awarded the Order of Lenin. #Victory80

✍️Excerpts from Russia’s Foreign Ministry’s answers to media questions for Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s news conference on the performance of Russian diplomacy in 2024 #UkrainianCrisis Russia has pointed out on numerous occasions that it is ready for talks on a settlement in Ukraine. We stand for a truly final, just and lasting solution based on the elimination of the root causes of that crisis. A temporary ceasefire and a conflict freeze are unacceptable solutions. The West will inevitably use them to reinforce the Kiev regime’s military potential and to take a military revenge. We want reliable and legally binding agreements with mechanisms guaranteeing the non-resumption of the conflict. #RussiaChina#Victory80 This year, we are celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory across both the European and Asian theatres of conflict. The peoples of the Soviet Union and China, having shouldered the formidable burden of resisting the aggressors, valiantly withstood the severe trials and triumphed over the enemy, albeit at the cost of tremendous human and material sacrifices. The memory of this monumental achievement by our forebears remains sacred to our nations, serving to fortify the enduring Russian-Chinese friendship and instil a sense of patriotism in our youth. Russia and China are poised to celebrate this significant anniversary on a grand scale. #RussiaAfrica Russia has been systematically striving to enhance the full spectrum of relations with African states. The solid foundations of successful Russian-African collaboration lie in our shared objective of cultivating a just world and, to a large extent, a harmonious approach to addressing pressing international issues. #RussiaUSA Donald Trump’s return to the White House following last November’s presidential election significantly alters the political landscape within the US. However, from the perspective of Russian-American relations, given the bipartisan Russophobic consensus that has developed, premised on the perception of Russia as an existential threat to American hegemony, no substantial positive developments should be anticipated. <...> It must be emphasised that we are not harbouring any illusions about the new/old president. During his first term, contrary to expectations, the deterioration of bilateral ties initiated by Barack Obama persisted, and Donald Trump surpassed his predecessors in the scale of sanctions imposed against Russia. #RussiaIran Our bilateral cooperation has achieved an unprecedented level under the direction of the leaders of both nations. The conclusion of such a comprehensive agreement [Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran] marks a significant event, representing a new milestone in the history of bilateral relations. #RussiaSyria We remain hopeful that the Syrian people will successfully overcome the challenges they face and develop consensus decisions about the future of their state. We stand ready to provide the Syrians with all possible support. #Eurasia We are actively pursuing the development of a Eurasian security architecture grounded in the principles of equality and indivisibility, ensuring that the primary responsibility for resolving regional disputes and conflicts rests with the states of the continent. President Vladimir Putin proposed this initiative during a meeting with the Foreign Ministry leadership on June 14, 2024. Our concept is grounded in the principle that “regional problems require regional solutions.”Responsibility for resolving conflicts and preventing harmful external interference must rest collectively with the nations of Eurasia. #Orthodoxy#Faith#FreedomOfReligion Сertain elements within the American establishment, the so-called deep state, are using the Kiev regime and NATO mechanisms against the Russian Orthodox Church. We see what they are doing and how cynically they behave targeting canonical Orthodoxy, trying to sow discord among Orthodox believers in Europe.

The 81st anniversary of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi blockade On January 27, 1944, the Red Army drove the German fascist troops away from Leningrad. The siege, which lasted 872 days, was finally lifted. It is difficult to identify the exact number of Leningraders who perished during the blockade: according to various estimates, it ranges from 600,000 to 1.5 million people. During this time, the fascists dropped over 100,000 aerial bombs on the city and fired 150,000 shells. However, approximately only 3 percent of the dead were killed by enemy weapons, while 97 percent died from hunger. The city, unbroken, greeted its liberation with a festive salute. People poured into the streets and embankments, no longer fearing, but rejoicing in the sound of artillery fire for the first time in a long while. #Victory80#OurVictory

🎙 President of Russia Vladimir Putinsummed up the results of the year and answered questions from journalists and the people of Russia in a live broadcast (December 19, 2024) #Sovereignty • Russia has become significantly stronger. We are becoming a truly sovereign country. We are capable of firmly standing on our feet when it comes to the economy. We are strengthening our defence capability. • Sovereignty is extremely important. It comes from within, should be embedded in the heart itself. #RussianEconomy • The situation in Russian economy is stable and solid. We are growing in spite of any external threats or attempts at outside influence. • International financial and economic institutions ranked Russia as Europe’sbiggest economy in terms of volume, in terms of purchasing power parity, and the world’s 4th largest economy. #UkrainianCrisis • If one were to look at the situation in 2022, knowing what is happening now, I would think the early 2022 decision [to start the special military operation] should have been made sooner. • We are ready to engage in dialogue without any preconditions. However, as I have mentioned numerous times before, based on the agreements that we reached during the negotiation process in Istanbul at the end of 2022 and proceeding from the current realities on the ground. • There is no indication in the Ukrainian constitution that the president's powers сould be extended. If one takes part in elections and becomes legitimate, then we will talk to that person, even if it's Zelensky. #Syria • Our position firmly aligns with international law and the sovereignty of all nations, including respect for Syria’s territorial integrity. This extends to supporting the stance of the current authorities governing the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. • The main beneficiary of the developments in Syria is Israel. Russia condemns the seizure of Syrian territories. Our position on this matter is clear and unchanging. #NuclearDoctrine • [In the new Basic Principles of State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence] we are talking about some new military hazards that may grow into military threats. • If non-nuclear states threaten our existence, participate in an aggression against the Russian Federation alongside the countries that have nuclear weapons, we consider ourselves entitled to use nuclear weapons vs them. • If similar threats are posed to Belarus, our ally and member of the Union State, the Russian Federation will consider these threats as threats to Russia. And we will do everything to ensure the security of Belarus. #Oreshnik • Medium-range Oreshnik missile system is a modern, a brand new weapon which can strike targets located up to 5'500 km away. • Our missile needs a few seconds to start dispensing warheads There is no chance of shooting down these missiles. #BRICS • BRICS is not a tool for countering the West. We focus on our own interests and the interests of the group’s member countries. • Ensuring reciprocity, mutual respect and respecting each other’s interests have been our core guiding principles in this effort. We adopt all decisions by consensus. #RussiaChina • Everything [Russia and China] do in relation to each other and how we do it is based on absolute trust to policies of both Sides. We engage in nothing that contradicts our interests, and we do much that benefits both the Chinese people and the peoples of the Russian Federation. <...> The bilateral trade volume is estimated at $220-240 billion, and it continues to grow. #RussiaUSA • I don’t know when we will meet [with Donald Trump]. I haven't spoken to him for more than four years. I’m ready to talk any time and will be ready to meet with him. #Victory80 • We will be happy to see all those who wish to visit our country to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Victory over Nazism. • The losses of the US and Britain in World War II are incomparable to those of the Soviet Union. Their contribution varied, yet we all the same cherish their participation. Read in full