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‘Different generations fighting fascism’. Kremlin officials want this year’s Victory Day spectacle to frame the Ukraine invasion as ‘the new Great Patriotic War’ — and they hope Western leaders will attend
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With this year’s Victory Day marking 80 years since the end of World War II, the Russian authorities are already making preparations — or at least creating the appearance of doing so. While concrete plans are few and far between, sources suggest that soldiers returning from Ukraine will take center stage, with the Kremlin working to draw parallels between its “special military operation” in Ukraine and the Soviet fight against fascism during WWII. The Kremlin is also reportedly hoping to attract major Western guests to its Moscow parade — perhaps even extending an invitation to Donald Trump. For more on what the Kremlin envisions for this year’s May 9 celebrations, Meduza’s Andrey Pertsev spoke with government insiders.
On May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day, commemorating the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War (World War II). This year marks the 80th anniversary, and with less than four months until the celebrations, President Vladimir Putin convened a meeting on January 15 with the organizing committee. Addressing regional leaders and civic organizations, Putin urged a “conscientious” approach to the upcoming events. “Formalism and chasing numbers are absolutely unacceptable. Memory is, above all, about concrete actions,” he said, though he didn’t specify what actions he had in mind.
At the same meeting, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov announced that Victory Day parades would take place in Moscow, eight “hero cities” — a Soviet honorary title awarded for exceptional defense during WWII — and 19 other cities hosting military district, fleet, and army headquarters. Soldiers who’ve fought in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine will also participate in the parades. In 2024, they marched on Moscow’s Red Square for the first time, and officials now plan to give them special recognition for the 80th Victory Day anniversary.
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Despite the meeting, large-scale preparations for Victory Day events haven’t yet begun, according to two sources close to the presidential administration, two regional officials, and a policymaker from the occupation administration in one annexed Ukrainian region. A political strategist working with the Kremlin’s domestic policy team suggested that organizing the events for May 9 would require “only a few weeks”:
“There’s no need to reinvent the wheel here — parades, Immortal Regiment marches, places they can be held, meetings with veterans, children’s contests, museum exhibitions. What to name a particular exhibition or contest is a minor detail. The structure has been perfected over decades — it’s the process that could be called sacred, not the events themselves.”
The strategist also noted that the “special military operation” — what the Kremlin calls the war in Ukraine — should be referenced in speeches, media coverage, and public commemorations, drawing parallels between it and World War II.
“The special military operation is the new Great Patriotic War — not just in the context of the anniversary, but in general. That’s how the president and his inner circle see it,” one regional official told Meduza.
mobilization efforts
However, linking the two wars isn’t part of a strategy to mobilize Russians for military service, a source close to the Kremlin clarified. “In the past, this kind of messaging was used in recruitment campaigns. Now the focus [of propaganda] is on financial incentives, [not ideology]. Such an effect is theoretically possible, but the primary audience for these celebrations is the general public, [not just potential recruits],” the source explained.
The official working in one of the annexed regions of Ukraine said the Putin administration clearly wants to “create a symbiosis between the special military operation and the Great Patriotic War.” “It’s about continuity: different generations fighting fascism,” he said, explaining the Kremlin’s logic.
So far, the Kremlin’s political team has issued only recommendations for the anniversary rather than concrete directives, the same source said. A list obtained by Meduza includes traditional events like the Immortal Regiment marches, as well as vague plans for “exhibitions” and “concerts.” According to the two regional officials, the Kremlin expects local governments to devise their own celebrations and media strategies, much as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s clear that we’ll need to talk about victory in the special military operation. But the main question is whether peace agreements or a cease-fire will have been reached by then. That’s far from certain. If not, I think we’ll frame the liberation of Donbas as a victory for now,” said one regional official.
But for the country’s top leadership, all of this — talk about the Russia-Ukraine war, events in various cities, decorations, and souvenirs — is far from the central focus of the celebrations. What matters most is the parade in Moscow and which foreign guests are willing to attend. A source close to the presidential administration said the guest list will likely include “the usual lineup [of leaders] from friendly [countries], possibly someone from Europe, and maybe even a ‘big name’ from the U.S.”
“Trump himself is a long shot, but there’s no harm in inviting him. The parade could serve as a kind of BRICS 2.0 summit, demonstrating that Russia isn’t truly isolated. If it succeeds in showing that, of course. But they’ll definitely make the attempt,” the source added.
no strategy
Story by Andrey Pertsev
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