Ukraine’s Day of Remembrance and the Hijacking of Victory: Resisting Russia’s Manipulation of World War II Legacy
In Ukraine May 8 is a public holiday - the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II. Ukrainians perceive this date and World War II through the human dimension with the emphasis on the role of the people who fought against the Nazism.
The 8th of May should not be associated with the triumph of winners, but serve as a reminder about the terrible catastrophe and warning against resolving complicated international issues by means of blackmail, ultimatums, military aggression or annexation. It is also about the importance of cherishing peace and defending it with all possible means.
The Day of Remembrance reminds us that World War II was triggered by the pact signed on August 23, 1939, by the two totalitarian regimes: the National Socialist (Nazi) one in Germany and the Communist one in the USSR. Both regimes had concentration camps and pursued inhuman ideologies which justified the extermination of millions of people. They were allies at the beginning of the war and divided Poland together. They held a joint Soviet-Nazi military parade in Brest on September 22, 1939, three weeks after the outbreak of World War II.
The end of World War II brought peace, but not freedom, to many European nations. The Soviet Union occupied or controlled Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other Central European nations, for whom one totalitarian rule was replaced with another one.
This day is a very important date for Ukraine whose people suffered a nationwide tragedy during World War II and played a major role in defeating Hitler. Ukraine was one of the main theaters of World War II as its frontline rolled through Ukraine twice: first from west to east and then from east to west. The scorched earth tactics were first used by the Red army retreating eastwards and later by the Wehrmacht forces retreating westwards. As a result, the Ukrainian people suffered tremendous loss of life and devastation.
During World War II Ukraine lost approximately 8 million people, including 5 million civilians and 3 million soldiers. Ukrainians heroically and bravely fought showing self-sacrifice in a variety of armies as a part of the anti-Hitler coalition, including 6 million in the Red Army and hundreds of thousands in resistance movements and allied armies of Poland, the United States, Canada and France. The Second World War had an impact on every Ukrainian family. Each town and village were affected.
That’s why Ukraine strongly rejects the Russian attempts to downplay or manipulate Ukraine's role by claiming that Russia has exclusive rights to victory over Nazism. Putin has portrayed victory over Nazism as a solely Russian achievement. In 2010 he went so far as to say that the victory would have been achieved without Ukrainians.
No country has the right to claim exclusive rights on the victory over Nazism, which was a result of tremendous efforts of dozens of countries and hundreds of nations who managed to concentrate all their forces, provide mutual assistance, consolidate and mobilize their societies, show solidarity and completely reorganize their economic, political and social life for the purpose of the fight against the evil. In order to comply with the rules on the international arena and prevent wars, genocides and violations of human rights and freedoms, the winning states created the United Nations. In recognition of the contribution of the Ukrainian people to the victory over Nazism Ukraine was included to the list of 51 founding members of the UN.
It is also unacceptable to use the moral authority of winning World War II in order to justify modern wars of aggression and atrocities. During the reign of Putin, the 'Great Victory' in World War II became an ideology to justify the war against Ukraine and other crimes. Putin’s regime portrays its current war against Ukraine as the continuation of World War II. In the parallel reality created by the Russian ruler Ukrainians are 'Nazis,' while Russians are 'liberators.' Hereby invading the neighboring country and killing its people is being justified.
Putin tries to use the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazism for propaganda purposes. The so-called 'victory parade' on May 9 is meant to be the culmination of the victory cult. Putin's regime has launched a massive propaganda campaign aimed at achieving three major goals. First, he wants to engage foreign leaders, politicians, and military units to demonstrate that he has allies in his aggression and that the international isolation of his regime is eroding. Second, Putin seeks to mobilize more Russians to the front lines in order to kill more Ukrainians and seize more Ukrainian territory. Third, he seeks to strengthen his regime and extend his illegal rule. With so few reasons for national pride against the background of systemic economic problems, millions of Russians living below the poverty line, widespread government corruption wasting billions and massive resources being poured into the war against Ukraine, the May 9 parade and its propaganda serve as a substitute for the masses.
In fact, Russian soldiers who will be marching through the Red Square on May 9, 2025, have nothing to do with the victory over Nazism. Some of them may have massacred civilians in Ukraine, Syria and Chechnya committing the most heinous atrocities since World War II.
Today Ukrainians experience the horrors and crimes similar to those perpetrated by the Nazis: wiping peaceful cities and villages off, blockade of ports, plundering and seizure of grain, mass killings, tortures, executions, deportation of children, filtration camps and colonies for captives. Russia has brought pages from textbooks about World War II back into the headlines of the world's media.
Russia has brought the terrible past back into the daily news, proving with each new crime that Nazism has been revived. By invading Ukraine Russia attacked the international world order which was created after the victory against the Nazism and undermined not only the stability in Europe but also the global security.
As the modern Kremlin resembles the Third Reich in everything, its end should be the same – the aggressor should be brought to justice. And like in 1945 this can only be achieved with joint actions by the united world.
In Ukraine May 8 is a public holiday - the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II. Ukrainians perceive this date and World War II through the human dimension with the emphasis on the role of the people who fought against the Nazism.
The 8th of May should not be associated with the triumph of winners, but serve as a reminder about the terrible catastrophe and warning against resolving complicated international issues by means of blackmail, ultimatums, military aggression or annexation. It is also about the importance of cherishing peace and defending it with all possible means.
The Day of Remembrance reminds us that World War II was triggered by the pact signed on August 23, 1939, by the two totalitarian regimes: the National Socialist (Nazi) one in Germany and the Communist one in the USSR. Both regimes had concentration camps and pursued inhuman ideologies which justified the extermination of millions of people. They were allies at the beginning of the war and divided Poland together. They held a joint Soviet-Nazi military parade in Brest on September 22, 1939, three weeks after the outbreak of World War II.
The end of World War II brought peace, but not freedom, to many European nations. The Soviet Union occupied or controlled Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other Central European nations, for whom one totalitarian rule was replaced with another one.
This day is a very important date for Ukraine whose people suffered a nationwide tragedy during World War II and played a major role in defeating Hitler. Ukraine was one of the main theaters of World War II as its frontline rolled through Ukraine twice: first from west to east and then from east to west. The scorched earth tactics were first used by the Red army retreating eastwards and later by the Wehrmacht forces retreating westwards. As a result, the Ukrainian people suffered tremendous loss of life and devastation.
During World War II Ukraine lost approximately 8 million people, including 5 million civilians and 3 million soldiers. Ukrainians heroically and bravely fought showing self-sacrifice in a variety of armies as a part of the anti-Hitler coalition, including 6 million in the Red Army and hundreds of thousands in resistance movements and allied armies of Poland, the United States, Canada and France. The Second World War had an impact on every Ukrainian family. Each town and village were affected.
That’s why Ukraine strongly rejects the Russian attempts to downplay or manipulate Ukraine's role by claiming that Russia has exclusive rights to victory over Nazism. Putin has portrayed victory over Nazism as a solely Russian achievement. In 2010 he went so far as to say that the victory would have been achieved without Ukrainians.
No country has the right to claim exclusive rights on the victory over Nazism, which was a result of tremendous efforts of dozens of countries and hundreds of nations who managed to concentrate all their forces, provide mutual assistance, consolidate and mobilize their societies, show solidarity and completely reorganize their economic, political and social life for the purpose of the fight against the evil. In order to comply with the rules on the international arena and prevent wars, genocides and violations of human rights and freedoms, the winning states created the United Nations. In recognition of the contribution of the Ukrainian people to the victory over Nazism Ukraine was included to the list of 51 founding members of the UN.
It is also unacceptable to use the moral authority of winning World War II in order to justify modern wars of aggression and atrocities. During the reign of Putin, the 'Great Victory' in World War II became an ideology to justify the war against Ukraine and other crimes. Putin’s regime portrays its current war against Ukraine as the continuation of World War II. In the parallel reality created by the Russian ruler Ukrainians are 'Nazis,' while Russians are 'liberators.' Hereby invading the neighboring country and killing its people is being justified.
Putin tries to use the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazism for propaganda purposes. The so-called 'victory parade' on May 9 is meant to be the culmination of the victory cult. Putin's regime has launched a massive propaganda campaign aimed at achieving three major goals. First, he wants to engage foreign leaders, politicians, and military units to demonstrate that he has allies in his aggression and that the international isolation of his regime is eroding. Second, Putin seeks to mobilize more Russians to the front lines in order to kill more Ukrainians and seize more Ukrainian territory. Third, he seeks to strengthen his regime and extend his illegal rule. With so few reasons for national pride against the background of systemic economic problems, millions of Russians living below the poverty line, widespread government corruption wasting billions and massive resources being poured into the war against Ukraine, the May 9 parade and its propaganda serve as a substitute for the masses.
In fact, Russian soldiers who will be marching through the Red Square on May 9, 2025, have nothing to do with the victory over Nazism. Some of them may have massacred civilians in Ukraine, Syria and Chechnya committing the most heinous atrocities since World War II.
Today Ukrainians experience the horrors and crimes similar to those perpetrated by the Nazis: wiping peaceful cities and villages off, blockade of ports, plundering and seizure of grain, mass killings, tortures, executions, deportation of children, filtration camps and colonies for captives. Russia has brought pages from textbooks about World War II back into the headlines of the world's media.
Russia has brought the terrible past back into the daily news, proving with each new crime that Nazism has been revived. By invading Ukraine Russia attacked the international world order which was created after the victory against the Nazism and undermined not only the stability in Europe but also the global security.
As the modern Kremlin resembles the Third Reich in everything, its end should be the same – the aggressor should be brought to justice. And like in 1945 this can only be achieved with joint actions by the united world.
In Ukraine May 8 is a public holiday - the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II. Ukrainians perceive this date and World War II through the human dimension with the emphasis on the role of the people who fought against the Nazism.
The 8th of May should not be associated with the triumph of winners, but serve as a reminder about the terrible catastrophe and warning against resolving complicated international issues by means of blackmail, ultimatums, military aggression or annexation. It is also about the importance of cherishing peace and defending it with all possible means.
The Day of Remembrance reminds us that World War II was triggered by the pact signed on August 23, 1939, by the two totalitarian regimes: the National Socialist (Nazi) one in Germany and the Communist one in the USSR. Both regimes had concentration camps and pursued inhuman ideologies which justified the extermination of millions of people. They were allies at the beginning of the war and divided Poland together. They held a joint Soviet-Nazi military parade in Brest on September 22, 1939, three weeks after the outbreak of World War II.
The end of World War II brought peace, but not freedom, to many European nations. The Soviet Union occupied or controlled Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other Central European nations, for whom one totalitarian rule was replaced with another one.
This day is a very important date for Ukraine whose people suffered a nationwide tragedy during World War II and played a major role in defeating Hitler. Ukraine was one of the main theaters of World War II as its frontline rolled through Ukraine twice: first from west to east and then from east to west. The scorched earth tactics were first used by the Red army retreating eastwards and later by the Wehrmacht forces retreating westwards. As a result, the Ukrainian people suffered tremendous loss of life and devastation.
During World War II Ukraine lost approximately 8 million people, including 5 million civilians and 3 million soldiers. Ukrainians heroically and bravely fought showing self-sacrifice in a variety of armies as a part of the anti-Hitler coalition, including 6 million in the Red Army and hundreds of thousands in resistance movements and allied armies of Poland, the United States, Canada and France. The Second World War had an impact on every Ukrainian family. Each town and village were affected.
That’s why Ukraine strongly rejects the Russian attempts to downplay or manipulate Ukraine's role by claiming that Russia has exclusive rights to victory over Nazism. Putin has portrayed victory over Nazism as a solely Russian achievement. In 2010 he went so far as to say that the victory would have been achieved without Ukrainians.
No country has the right to claim exclusive rights on the victory over Nazism, which was a result of tremendous efforts of dozens of countries and hundreds of nations who managed to concentrate all their forces, provide mutual assistance, consolidate and mobilize their societies, show solidarity and completely reorganize their economic, political and social life for the purpose of the fight against the evil. In order to comply with the rules on the international arena and prevent wars, genocides and violations of human rights and freedoms, the winning states created the United Nations. In recognition of the contribution of the Ukrainian people to the victory over Nazism Ukraine was included to the list of 51 founding members of the UN.
It is also unacceptable to use the moral authority of winning World War II in order to justify modern wars of aggression and atrocities. During the reign of Putin, the 'Great Victory' in World War II became an ideology to justify the war against Ukraine and other crimes. Putin’s regime portrays its current war against Ukraine as the continuation of World War II. In the parallel reality created by the Russian ruler Ukrainians are 'Nazis,' while Russians are 'liberators.' Hereby invading the neighboring country and killing its people is being justified.
Putin tries to use the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazism for propaganda purposes. The so-called 'victory parade' on May 9 is meant to be the culmination of the victory cult. Putin's regime has launched a massive propaganda campaign aimed at achieving three major goals. First, he wants to engage foreign leaders, politicians, and military units to demonstrate that he has allies in his aggression and that the international isolation of his regime is eroding. Second, Putin seeks to mobilize more Russians to the front lines in order to kill more Ukrainians and seize more Ukrainian territory. Third, he seeks to strengthen his regime and extend his illegal rule. With so few reasons for national pride against the background of systemic economic problems, millions of Russians living below the poverty line, widespread government corruption wasting billions and massive resources being poured into the war against Ukraine, the May 9 parade and its propaganda serve as a substitute for the masses.
In fact, Russian soldiers who will be marching through the Red Square on May 9, 2025, have nothing to do with the victory over Nazism. Some of them may have massacred civilians in Ukraine, Syria and Chechnya committing the most heinous atrocities since World War II.
Today Ukrainians experience the horrors and crimes similar to those perpetrated by the Nazis: wiping peaceful cities and villages off, blockade of ports, plundering and seizure of grain, mass killings, tortures, executions, deportation of children, filtration camps and colonies for captives. Russia has brought pages from textbooks about World War II back into the headlines of the world's media.
Russia has brought the terrible past back into the daily news, proving with each new crime that Nazism has been revived. By invading Ukraine Russia attacked the international world order which was created after the victory against the Nazism and undermined not only the stability in Europe but also the global security.
As the modern Kremlin resembles the Third Reich in everything, its end should be the same – the aggressor should be brought to justice. And like in 1945 this can only be achieved with joint actions by the united world.
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Ukraine’s Day of Remembrance and the Hijacking of Victory: Resisting Russia’s Manipulation of World War II Legacy
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