Putin Warns Against Nazi Glorification on Russia’s 81st Victory Day
Speaking at a Kremlin reception after the Victory Day parade, Vladimir Putin said preserving peace and defending historical truth are sacred duties inherited from all ancestors.
Russia, PUREWILAYAH.COM — Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that attempts to falsify the history of World War II and glorify Nazism must be firmly suppressed, as Russia commemorated the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.
Putin delivered the remarks during a ceremonial reception at the Grand Kremlin Palace following the annual Victory Day military parade on Red Square. The event was attended by heads of state, foreign delegations, war veterans, and distinguished guests from countries across Eurasia and beyond.
“I am glad to celebrate Victory Day among friends and reliable partners,” Putin said, adding that Russia has never divided the victory over Nazism into “ours” and “theirs.”
Putin: Peace Is a Duty Passed Down by Our Ancestors
In his address, Putin said the ancestors of all peoples entrusted future generations with the responsibility to preserve and defend peace.
He stressed that the emerging world order must respect the cultural and civilizational diversity of humanity and every nation’s right to determine its own destiny while remaining faithful to its historical traditions and moral foundations.
The Russian president also noted that 2026 marks the 85th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941.
According to Putin, that date remains a lasting reminder of the catastrophic consequences of racism, xenophobia, and the belief in the superiority of one people over others.
Russia Will Prevent Any Justification of Nazism
Putin said Russia considers it a historical and moral duty to prevent any attempt to justify the genocide committed against Soviet citizens and other atrocities carried out by Nazi Germany.
“These crimes were unequivocally condemned by the rulings of the Nuremberg Tribunal and have no statute of limitations,” he said.
He added that the falsification of World War II history and the glorification of Nazi collaborators are unacceptable, emphasizing that those responsible caused unbearable suffering and the deaths of millions of civilians.
Victory Day Parade Showcases Military Strength and International Support
Earlier in the day, Russia held its annual Victory Day military parade on Red Square, commemorating the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.
The parade began with the Honor Guard of the Preobrazhensky Regiment carrying the Russian national flag and the historic Victory Banner, which Soviet troops raised over the Reichstag in May 1945.
President Putin, veterans, and foreign leaders observed the ceremony from the central reviewing stand as Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov reviewed the troops and Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev commanded the parade.
Among the foreign leaders attending were Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, and Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim.
For the first time, a military contingent from North Korea participated in the parade.
Around 1,000 Russian servicemen involved in the special military operation, including 17 Heroes of Russia, marched across Red Square, alongside units of the Unmanned Systems Forces.
The celebrations concluded with a flyover by Russian combat aircraft, including the aerobatic teams Russian Knights and Swifts, followed by six Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft releasing smoke in the colors of the Russian national flag.
At the conclusion of the Kremlin reception, Putin raised the traditional “front-line 100 grams” and proposed a toast to the victorious generation that defeated Nazism and preserved peace for future generations. (PW)