Victory Day
May 9, Thursday
Victory Day, celebrated on May 9, is one of the most significant holidays in the countries of the former Soviet Union. It commemorates the victory of the USSR and its allies over Nazi Germany in World War II (known as the Great Patriotic War in Russia and several other post-Soviet states). This day symbolizes the end of the war in Europe, marked by the signing of Germany's unconditional surrender late on the night of May 8 into May 9, 1945.
May 9 became an official holiday in the Soviet Union in 1965, gaining broad national significance. The day is traditionally observed with military parades on Red Square in Moscow, wreath-laying ceremonies at the Eternal Flame, moments of silence, and other commemorative events honoring war veterans and remembering those who fell.
Victory Day remains an important occasion today, symbolizing unity, the memory of wartime sacrifices, and pride in the victory during the Great Patriotic War.