Each year on May 9, Russia stops to remember. Streets are filled with the echo of marching boots, skies roar with jet flyovers, and hearts swell with a mixture of pride and grief. Victory Day is more than just a holiday in Russia — it is a national soul-searching, a tribute to the over 27 million lives lost during the Second World War, and a chance to reaffirm unity amid a complex and shifting global landscape.
This year, Victory Day 2025 arrives with added weight. While the traditional celebrations continue — parades, patriotic songs, veterans in their uniforms adorned with medals — there’s also an undercurrent of reflection about what the lessons of the past mean in a time when global peace feels fragile once again.
The Heartbeat of the Nation: Remembering the Great Patriotic War
For most Russians, Victory Day is a deeply personal occasion. Almost every family in the country has a story from what they call the Great Patriotic War — a grandfather who fought at Stalingrad, a grandmother who endured the Siege of Leningrad, an uncle who never came home.
Photos of fallen ancestors are carried in the Immortal Regiment marches, a grassroots movement that has become the emotional centerpiece of the day. People of all ages, even small children, walk through streets with portraits of their relatives, proudly holding high the faces of those who sacrificed everything.
In 2025, as global headlines are dominated by conflict and uncertainty, this public act of remembrance reminds the world of what war truly costs — not just in territory or politics, but in lives, families, and futures lost.
Red Square Parade: Display of Power and Memory
As always, the symbolic heart of the day beats in Moscow’s Red Square, where the grand military parade unfolds before thousands. Tanks roll past Lenin’s Mausoleum, fighter jets streak through the sky in precision formations, and elite soldiers stand at attention — not just as a display of strength, but as a salute to the past.
President Vladimir Putin, in his Victory Day address, emphasized national pride, the enduring spirit of the Russian people, and the importance of standing against what he described as “neo-fascist threats” in today’s geopolitical climate. He acknowledged the pain of ongoing global conflicts, drawing parallels between today’s struggles and the unity that helped defeat Nazism eight decades ago.
Despite international criticism over various military policies, many Russians see Victory Day as separate from politics — a sacred time to honor the sacrifice, pain, and triumph of their ancestors.
Veterans: The Living Memory of a Dying Generation
One of the most poignant aspects of Victory Day is the presence of the remaining veterans, now all well into their 90s or older. Draped in uniforms and surrounded by grateful citizens, they are cherished as living links to history.
This year, many veterans were seen smiling gently as children offered them flowers and thank-you notes. Their stories, often filled with unimaginable hardship and heroism, were shared on national broadcasts and social media, preserving them for younger generations who may only know war from textbooks or the news.
Yet their dwindling numbers are a reminder that firsthand memories of World War II are fading, and with them, the urgency of remembering why peace must never be taken for granted.
A Day for Reflection, Not Just Celebration
While the fireworks over the Kremlin and the thunder of national anthems mark the celebratory side of Victory Day, for many Russians, it is a somber reflection on both the resilience of their ancestors and the fragility of world peace.
In recent years, as Russia’s relationships with many Western nations remain strained and conflicts persist in various regions, the day also carries subtle messages — about sovereignty, strength, and the desire to be respected on the world stage.
But beneath the politics lies something more universal: a yearning for a world in which no more names must be added to memorial walls, no more children grow up without fathers, and no more history must repeat itself in blood.
The Eternal Flame Burns On
As night falls on Victory Day, candles flicker on windowsills, church bells toll, and the Eternal Flame at war memorials continues to burn — a symbol of remembrance, resilience, and hope.
In a world filled with uncertainty, Victory Day 2025 reminds us that behind every soldier was a mother’s tear, a child’s prayer, and a family’s broken heart. And it teaches us — across borders, politics, and languages — that peace is not inherited, but earned and protected, every single day.
