Every year on May 8, Ukraine honors the memory of everyone who fought against Nazism, as well as other victims of the war. By commemorating the victory over Nazism on May 8, the day Nazi Germany signed its surrender (Victory in Europe Day), Ukraine consistently demonstrates its unity with Europe and solidarity with European nations and the United States. In doing so, we have rejected Soviet narratives, definitively breaking with the Soviet/Russian tradition of celebrating “May 9,” which involves a cult of victory.
It is a well-known fact that World War II began due to a conspiracy between two totalitarian regimes—the Nazi and Soviet regimes—which echoes modern Russian aggression. The Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II (1939–1945) — serves as a reminder that the outbreak of global conflict was preceded by a secret conspiracy between Nazi Germany and the Bolshevik USSR regarding the division and occupation of neighboring European states, as well as the tacit unwillingness of the world’s most powerful players to resist the aggressors.
As a result, on August 23, 1939, the aggressor states signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and its secret protocol. Thus, from the start of the war until June 22, 1941, the USSR and Germany were allies and bear joint responsibility for the outbreak of World War II.
Eighty percent of the world’s population took part in this war, and between 50 and 85 million people died. In total, more than 110 million soldiers were mobilized into the armies of the opposing sides.
However, the Kremlin leadership believes that it was Russia that made the greatest contribution to the victory over Nazi Germany. In its quest to monopolize the Victory over Nazism, Russia either ignores or downplays the role of other states and peoples in this struggle.
Between 1939 and 1945, Ukrainian lands became one of the main theaters of war. The territory of Ukraine suffered massive destruction, and its population endured massive losses as a result of military operations, occupation policies, repression, and genocide.
Despite this, Ukrainians made a significant contribution to the victory over Nazism. Millions of our compatriots fought in the various armies of the anti-Hitler coalition and participated in the resistance movement and the underground struggle. Ukrainian industry and the economy were reoriented to meet the needs of the front.
At the same time, the end of the war did not bring Ukraine the freedom it had longed for, but instead led to the return of communist terror. This manifested itself in the deportation of Crimean Tatars and other peoples from Crimea, the mass artificial famine of 1946–1947, the deportations of ethnic Ukrainians from Poland, the return of repression, the re-Sovietization of western Ukraine, and attempts to destroy the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, among other things.
Civilized humanity understands that World War II is a tragedy, not a romantic tale of victories (or “pobedy”). Without grandstanding, without the Soviet cult of personality, we honor the Ukrainians who fought in the ranks of the armies of the Anti-Hitler Coalition, the UPA, and the partisans—everyone who fought against Nazism, and all the victims of World War II. We declare: eternal memory to the fallen soldiers and civilians, and lifelong gratitude to the veterans.
Today, amid Ukraine’s War for Independence, the significance of this day takes on new meaning. Ukrainians are once again taking up arms to defend their state, freedom, and democratic values, safeguarding the security not only of their own country but of all of Europe.
In today’s world, a clear historical parallel can be drawn between Nazism and Russian imperialism, and the Russian Federation itself is nothing less than an “empire of evil” that employs Nazi methods such as aggression, genocide, and the destruction of cities and villages.
Today, Ukraine is an active participant in the fight against evil; together with its partners, it is shaping modern European security and creating guarantees of peace for the future. The heroic resistance of Ukrainians is not merely a struggle for the physical survival of the Ukrainian people and the freedom of the country. In this war, Ukraine is defending its European choice, its national identity, and its values as part of the European family. Ukrainians are shedding blood for a free and democratic Europe.
Our society must remain united to defeat the aggressor and build a democratic state governed by the rule of law within the family of European nations.