Russia's Victory Day: History, controversy, and symbolism

Victory Day celebrated on May 9 is one of the most important national holidays in Russia, commemorating the capitulation of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe. It is characterized by grandiosity, military parades, and national pride, yet it also sparks controversy—both within Russia and internationally. It's worth examining its history, symbolism, and how the celebrations have evolved over the years.

• The Russian Victory Day is celebrated on May 9, unlike May 8 in Western countries.
• The holiday commemorates the capitulation of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II from the perspective of the USSR.
• The highlight of the celebrations is the victory parade on Red Square in Moscow.
• The event is used for propaganda by the Russian authorities, particularly since the conflict in Ukraine.
• The West, including NATO, the USA, the European Union, and many European countries, boycotts the Russian celebrations.
• Participation from countries such as China, Serbia, or Slovakia is perceived as support for the Russian narrative.
• Vladimir Putin frequently uses this holiday to craft an ideological message about "defending the homeland" from Western threats.
• In many countries of the region—including Poland—May 9 is viewed as an element of Russian propaganda.

The Russian Victory Day, observed on May 9, stands as one of the most important national holidays in Russia. It commemorates the capitulation of Nazi Germany and the formal conclusion of World War II on the Eastern Front. While the victory over Germany is also celebrated by other European countries, for Russia—and previously the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)—it holds significant propagandistic, historical, and emotional meaning.

On May 9, 1945, during the night from May 8 to May 9 Moscow time, the act of unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany was signed in Berlin before representatives of the USSR. For Russia, this day became a symbol of heroism and suffering, serving as a central point of the narrative around victory over fascism. During the era of the USSR, the celebrations were particularly solemn, but annual military parades in Moscow, on Red Square, began only in 1965.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russian Victory Day did not lose its significance. On the contrary, the authorities of the Russian Federation, led by Vladimir Putin, have turned this holiday into an important facet of domestic and foreign policy. The symbolism of May 9 has become intertwined with narratives about the state's strength and the necessity of defending it from threats from the West, NATO, the USA, or the European Union.

Recently, especially after the conflict in Ukraine began, the celebrations have taken on an even stronger propagandistic tone. Russia positions itself as the "liberator of Europe" in these celebrations and maintains the rhetoric of combating Nazism—despite increasing criticism from many Western countries.

Although most Western countries—including Poland, France, Germany, the USA, and members of NATO and the European Union—mark the end of World War II on May 8, Russia (and formerly the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics – USSR) celebrates this event a day later, on May 9. This discrepancy is mainly due to time zone differences and political decisions made after the war.

The signing of the act of unconditional surrender by Nazi Germany occurred on May 8, 1945, in the evening in Berlin, around 5:01 PM Eastern Time. However, in Moscow, it was already May 9—just after midnight. Consequently, the USSR designated May 9 as the official day of victory over Nazi Germany.

The decision to designate May 9 as a national holiday also carried symbolic weight. The Soviet Union wanted to highlight its independence and distinctiveness from the West in this manner. In the context of the Cold War and rising tensions between East and West, this difference in dates became an element of propagandistic differentiation from capitalist countries.

Today, Russia, under Vladimir Putin, still maintains May 9 as a national holiday, with celebrations meticulously planned and broadcast in the media. This date carries enormous significance in fostering national identity, reinforcing the myth of the "Great Patriotic War," and preserving the memory of the USSR's role in defeating Nazi Germany—while simultaneously minimizing or downplaying the contributions of the West, the USA, Great Britain, or France.

The Russian Victory Day is one of the most spectacular and symbolic national holidays in Russia. Each year on May 9, the streets of cities, especially Moscow, transform into a stage for a military spectacle, culminating in the victory parade on Red Square. The event draws thousands of soldiers, tanks, missiles, and fighter jets—all to exhibit the might of the Russian Federation's military and to commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

The event is meticulously choreographed and serves not only as a form of commemoration but also as a propaganda tool. In speeches delivered by Vladimir Putin, references to the battle against Nazism, the role of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and warnings about "enemies" from the West, NATO, the USA, or the European Union are prominent. Especially since the conflict in Ukraine began, the narrative surrounding May 9 has become significantly more severe.

The celebrations also include:

• laying flowers at monuments to Soviet soldiers,
• marches of the so-called Immortal Regiment, which involve people carrying portraits of relatives who fought in the war,
• educational and media events glorifying the USSR's role in defeating Nazism,
• religious ceremonies and patriotic concerts.

In recent years, the victory parade has gained increasing political significance—it serves as a display of strength and an occasion to legitimize Russia's actions, including its aggression towards Ukraine. Participation by foreign leaders is often limited, and the presence of politicians like Aleksandar Vučić (Serbia) or Robert Fico (Slovakia) is sometimes seen as an endorsement of the Russian historical narrative.

Although Russian Victory Day is a state holiday and presented as a tribute to World War II victims, each year it draws increasing controversies—both within Russia and internationally.

Many historians and observers argue that May 9 has become a propaganda tool, used to cultivate the mythology of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) as the sole contributor to Nazi Germany's defeat. In Moscow's official narrative, the roles of the USA, Great Britain, France, and Poland, which also endured massive losses and fought against Nazism starting in 1939, are increasingly overlooked.

Controversy also stems from how history is presented—Russia increasingly uses the victory parade and accompanying speeches to justify its military actions, particularly concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin equates Russia's adversaries with Nazis and accuses the West, NATO, and the European Union of seeking to destroy Russian sovereignty and history.

Additionally, there is growing criticism over the use of images of children in military uniforms, the glorification of military power, and the marginalization of the victims' tragedies during the war. International organizations, like the EU and human rights groups, warn that Russia deliberately twists history to legitimize contemporary aggression, especially against Ukraine and Central and Eastern European countries.

Significantly, some countries have opted to boycott the celebrations—e.g., Poland, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania consistently refuse to participate in ceremonies in Moscow, recognizing them as propagandistic and contrary to historical truth.

The Russian Victory Day has long provoked mixed responses on the international stage. In the past, leaders from many countries—including France, Germany, the USA, Italy, and Poland—attended the anniversary celebrations in Moscow. However, since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and particularly after the large-scale conflict in Ukraine began in 2022, most Western countries decided to boycott the ceremonies, accusing Russia of exploiting history for political purposes.

Today’s victory parades are no longer gestures of international community memory but rather showcases of Russia's military strength and demonstrations of its detachment from NATO, the EU, the USA, and many other European countries. The May 9 celebrations draw criticism for aggressive rhetoric, anti-Western messages, and blending historical memory with current politics.

Exceptions include countries maintaining close ties with Moscow—such as China, Serbia, and Slovakia. In 2024, notable attendees at the parade included Xi Jinping and prime ministers Robert Fico, as well as president Aleksandar Vučić. Their attendance was viewed as support for Vladimir Putin's narrative.

Conversely, Central and Eastern European countries—including Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the Czech Republic—not only abstain from the celebrations but actively remind the world about the crimes of the USSR, Soviet occupation, and historical distortions. In these countries, May 8 is celebrated as the day of victory over fascism, without glorifying the Soviet Union's role.

Sources: histmag, Historia Do Rzeczy, rp.pl, forsal.pl, RMF24, polityka.pl