On May 9, during the solemn observances of Victory Day in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a powerful speech reaffirming Russia’s resolve to defend its sovereignty, values, and historical memory. Speaking before an audience of veterans, active military personnel, foreign dignitaries, and citizens, Putin positioned Russia as an “unbreakable barrier” against the forces of Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism, asserting, “truth and justice are on our side.”

The occasion marked the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II – a seminal event in Russian national consciousness known as the Great Patriotic War. Against the backdrop of Red Square, with its traditional military parade and tributes to the fallen, Putin drew a direct link between the Soviet struggle against Nazism and Russia’s current military operations, particularly in Ukraine.

Putin’s address emphasized continuity between past and present, invoking the memory of the Soviet soldiers who fought against Nazi Germany to frame Russia’s contemporary challenges. “Our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers saved the Fatherland,” Putin stated. “They entrusted us to be united, to firmly defend our national interests, our thousand-year history, culture, and traditional values – everything that is dear and sacred to us.”

This theme of historical continuity has become increasingly prominent in Kremlin rhetoric, particularly since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Moscow has consistently accused the Kiev government of harboring neo-Nazi elements and of attempting to dismantle the shared historical legacy........

© Blitz