Why Victory Day in Russia is more than a military anniversary

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* 

Russia commemorated Victory Day on May 9, 2026, marking the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany during the Second World War. The occasion remains deeply significant in Russia and several former Soviet republics, where the conflict is remembered as the “Great Patriotic War” of 1941–1945. The Soviet Union suffered immense human losses during the war, with an estimated 27 million people killed. Yet many in Russia believe that Western Europe and the United States often understate the scale of Soviet sacrifices and the decisive role played by Soviet forces in the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Germany formally surrendered in May 1945, and the Soviet military advance into Berlin became one of the defining moments of the war. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin emerged from the conflict as a central global figure, while the Soviet Union positioned itself as the leading force of the socialist world. The Soviet victory also inspired anti-colonial movements across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where many freedom fighters saw the defeat of fascism as part of a broader struggle against imperial domination.

The closing phase of the war also continues to generate debate among historians and political commentators. Some argue that the rapid deployment of American military force against Japan, including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, was influenced not only by the desire to secure Japanese surrender but also by emerging geopolitical rivalry with the Soviet Union. These interpretations remain contested, yet they continue to shape contemporary discussions about the origins of the Cold War and the global balance of power after 1945.

Russia has frequently argued that post-war Europe did not fully eradicate fascist tendencies and that several individuals associated with wartime atrocities were protected or reintegrated into Western political and security establishments during the Cold War. At the same time, Russian officials and commentators often accuse Western governments of downplaying the Soviet Union’s contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The memory of the Holocaust and the continuing conflict in Gaza have also led many observers to raise difficult moral and political questions. Critics of Israeli military actions in Gaza have compared the scale of destruction and civilian suffering to other historical tragedies, arguing that Western governments have failed to hold Israel accountable for alleged violations of international law. Supporters of Israel reject such comparisons, maintaining that the Holocaust was a unique historical atrocity and that contemporary conflicts must be understood in their own context. Nevertheless, the debate reflects growing global concern over civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions in Palestine.

For India, the Allied victory in the Second World War had important political consequences. The weakening of Britain after the war accelerated the process that eventually led to Indian independence in 1947. The Soviet Union and the Russian Revolution also influenced sections of India’s freedom movement and progressive political thought. Indian revolutionaries and intellectuals such as Raja Mahendra Pratap, Maulana Barkatullah, and M. N. Roy interacted with Soviet leaders and international socialist movements. Historical accounts also note that Subhas Chandra Bose initially hoped to seek Soviet assistance before eventually traveling to Germany during the war.

Political tensions surrounding ideological symbols continue in contemporary India. In recent years, statues and images of communist leaders, including Vladimir Lenin, have been vandalized in parts of the country by groups opposed to left-wing politics. Such incidents reflect broader ideological polarization and competing visions of nationalism and history. Critics argue that targeting statues, institutions, or cultural symbols weakens democratic discourse and promotes intolerance rather than debate.

Across the world, statues and memorials dedicated to international figures continue to reflect the influence of ideas that transcend national boundaries. Leaders and thinkers such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, and B. R. Ambedkar are commemorated internationally for their contributions to political thought, literature, social justice, and anti-colonial struggles.

Victory Day in Russia therefore remains more than a military anniversary. It is tied to debates over historical memory, anti-fascism, colonialism, nationalism, and contemporary geopolitics. For many in India, the day also serves as a reminder of the long-standing relationship between India and Russia, which has endured through changing global alliances and political transformations.

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*Human rights defender