Victory Day Celebrations in Russia: Echoes of the Ukraine Conflict and National Sentiment

Millions of Russians participated in events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II on Friday.

In addition to the central celebration on Red Square, various regions across Russia, along with ethnic republics and even small towns, hosted military parades and air displays. For the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, civilians took part in the Immortal Regiment marches.

These commemorations took place under strict security due to concerns about potential sabotage. Mobile internet services were cut in at least 31 regions starting Thursday evening, and attendees had to go through metal detectors and thorough searches to enter limited-access areas.

While no significant security incidents were reported, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine cast a shadow over the day’s festivities, affecting areas as distant as Siberia and the Far East.

This year, Immortal Regiment marches occurred in 57 regions, each featuring tens of thousands of participants. Among the marchers were relatives of Russian soldiers who have died in Ukraine, marking a rare public display of grief officially acknowledged by authorities.

The Immortal Regiment originated from a grassroots movement initiated in Tomsk, Siberia, in 2012. Intended initially as a way for descendants of deceased veterans to connect with their family history, it has since been appropriated by the Kremlin as a propaganda tool that aims to amplify Russia’s role in combating Nazi Germany and promote imperialist narratives, according to critics.

Participation in these marches has increasingly become obligatory for many government workers, students, and schoolchildren.

In the lead-up to this year’s event, authorities recommended that participants carry photographs of relatives who served in various capacities during World War II, including those who survived concentration camps and those killed in recent conflicts.

Attendees were seen carrying images of loved ones who died in combat in Ukraine alongside those honoring relatives who fought against Nazi Germany, particularly in regions such as Buryatia, Tyva, and Sakha (Yakutia), as well as Zabaikalsky, Irkutsk, and Omsk.

Former soldiers from the Ukrainian front also joined the Immortal Regiment marches, often dressed in military attire and adorned with medals, while displaying portraits of their ancestors who served in World War II.

In certain regions, authorities set up booths where men at Victory Day events could enlist with the Defense Ministry for military duties in Ukraine and other international missions.

Local leaders overseeing the military parades made connections between the historical «Great Patriotic War» and the current «Special Military Operation,» reinforcing the Kremlin’s narrative that claims Russia is combating Nazism in Ukraine.

«We have a sacred obligation to both our fallen and living heroes to maintain peace and prevent fascism from resurfacing. This is why your grandchildren and great-grandchildren are here to defend the homeland today,» said Radiy Khabirov, the head of Bashkortostan, which has recorded high casualties in the Ukraine conflict.

«We firmly believe: ‘Our cause is just. Victory will be ours!'» Khabirov stated, addressing World War II veterans.

Aysen Nikolaev, the leader of Sakha, echoed this sentiment, highlighting a supposed historical and generational link between the two wars.

«[Today] the battle against fascism has united all Russians around our national leader, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Eleven of Yakutia’s bravest sons were awarded the title of Hero of Russia, and thousands received high state honors for their service in Ukraine,» Nikolaev remarked.

Sakha, a resource-abundant republic with a population of less than one million, suffered over 30,000 losses in World War II and at least 1,140 in the current conflict. Photos of soldiers from both wars were prominently displayed in the Immortal Regiment marches in Yakutsk on Friday.

Yakutsk, a city with just over 300,000 residents, organized at least 130 events to celebrate Victory Day, including a large waltz featuring 5,500 pairs of dancers, composed of government employees, students, and children in military attire, as well as an Orthodox religious procession.

Additionally, diamond mining company Alrosa from Sakha declared it would name a recently mined diamond, reportedly the largest in Russia’s history, «80 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War» in honor of the occasion.

«Yakutsk consistently demonstrates patriotic zeal, comparable to other cities,» stated Veronika Levchenkova from the Free Yakutia Foundation, the largest Indigenous rights and anti-war organization in the region. «But who is all this for? Clearly, it serves as a display for the Kremlin.»

«Currently, Yakutsk is submerged in spring mud like it has been for years. Authorities [allegedly] lack funds to address it yet had the budget for the parade,» Levchenkova commented to The Moscow Times.

Meanwhile, Free Yakutia, which has garnered tens of thousands of supporters throughout the republic, reported receiving numerous messages from residents of Sakha who deem any form of celebration «unacceptable» while the conflict in Ukraine persists.

«Our audience consists of critical thinkers, and the feedback we receive about Victory Day celebrations is overwhelmingly one-sided, with many recognizing the propaganda and historical misrepresentation involved,» Levchenkova explained.

«We would like to believe that a majority of people in the republic also see the indoctrination at play, but it is possible that many do not.»