How Do Ukrainians View Victory Day on May 9?
Soon May 9th comes and it means very different things in Russia and Ukraine.
In Russia, it’s called Victory Day. They remember beating Nazi Germany in World War II with big parades, soldiers and tanks. This tradition comes from the old Soviet Union.
Ukraine used to mark May 9th too. But in 2023, they changed it to May 8th. That’s the same day most European countries remember the war’s end. For Ukraine, it’s a quiet day. People take time off, think about the lives lost and say, “Never again.” It’s not a day to show strength.
Russia mostly remembers the war from 1941 to 1945 — the years when Hitler attacked them. They call it the Great Patriotic War. But they rarely mention that in 1939, Stalin and Hitler made a secret deal to split parts of Europe.
Now that Russia is at war with Ukraine, May 9th feels painful. Ukrainians are fighting the same army that marches in Moscow today. Ukraine also fought hard in World War II. So when Russia acts like they won the war alone, it hurts.
That’s why many people in Ukraine now see May 9th as a difficult and emotional day.
