Russian President Vladimir Putin and several foreign leaders laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on Saturday [1].

The ceremony marks the annual commemoration of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War. These events serve as a primary pillar of Russian national identity and are used by the Kremlin to frame current military engagements as a continuation of that historical struggle.

The commemorations took place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall in Red Square [1, 2]. While some reports noted the presence of foreign dignitaries at the flower-laying ceremony, other accounts focused on a scaled-back nature of the broader Victory Day parade [1, 3].

During the events, Putin delivered a speech lasting 10 minutes [2]. He used the platform to address the current conflict and the role of international actors. "We are fighting an aggressive force backed by NATO, and our cause is just," Putin said [4].

The president also praised the Russian military for its performance in recent operations. "Our soldiers have shown great courage and deserve our highest respect," Putin said [5].

Despite the scaled-back festivities, the Kremlin signaled it would proceed with the planned ceremonies regardless of external pressure. "We will not be intimidated by any attempts to disrupt our celebrations," Putin said [2].

The events concluded on May 9, 2026 [1].

“"We are fighting an aggressive force backed by NATO, and our cause is just."”

The use of Victory Day allows the Russian government to link current geopolitical conflicts to the legacy of World War II. By framing the current struggle against NATO-backed forces as a modern parallel to the Great Patriotic War, the Kremlin seeks to solidify domestic support and justify military actions through a lens of historical necessity and national survival.