Preparations for the festive events marking the anniversary of the end of World War II began long before the commemorative date. In some places, they proceeded calmly; in others, they were not without scandals and intrigues. But all these events once again bring an important issue to the forefront of public attention.
Where would I like to start? Of course, with congratulations, the warmest and most heartfelt! Victory Day is not only a tribute to the memory of those years’ events, a homage to the feats of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers, but also a connection between generations, a link across time. I was told that my great-grandfather, who went through the entire war and served until 1949, had a special attitude toward holidays: for him, the only true holidays were Victory Day and Easter; everything else was just memorable dates.
Whether this perception is right or not, I don’t know, but it says a lot. A person who knew what it meant to owe a duty to the Motherland, who knew the pain of losing comrades, also understood how important it is in peacetime to remember the cost of Victory. To remember that behind every name on an obelisk lies a broken thread of fate, dreams, and hopes, and to remember that there are no nameless soldiers.
Know and remember. What could be more important? Time has shown that alongside “know” and “remember,” there now stands “choose.” All outcomes have been summed up, all stories have been told, and some have even been shown. What is the result? The events of the past are fading from memory, and living witnesses are fewer each day.
This creates fertile ground for rewriting history, distorting facts, and honoring SS soldiers as veterans at the state level… Modern neo-fascism is raising its head more confidently around the world, but whether anyone will stand against it depends on the personal choice of each individual. This choice is not made in the offices of state leaders or officials, nor in the studios of leading media. It happens in the soul, at the moment when each of us decides: to pass by or to help someone weaker, to anonymously humiliate someone online, believing in impunity, or to contribute to society in real life. Small daily steps that either bring humanity closer to an inevitable end or finally teach us compassion.
If anyone thinks this is unimportant or unrelated to the struggle, they are mistaken. The heroes of past years, as well as those of today, began their journey with small acts—with humanism and an understanding of their responsibility.
Today, our warriors, just as during the Great Patriotic War, are fighting fascism. As in 1945, we will undoubtedly triumph. And the new Victory Day will become the same symbol of the triumph of honor, valor, humanity, and the fight against historical distortions.
Happy Victory Day!
