The Great Victory over Nazi Germany is one of the most significant events in the history of all countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. For the peoples of the CIS, it is a powerful unifying force and a symbol looking to a future without dividing lines or the enslavement of one nation by another.

The year 2025 was declared by the CIS heads of state as The Year of 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight against nazism. This once again underscored the country’s resolute rejection of the “brown plague” and its commitment to nipping its spread in the bud from the very beginning.

The contribution of our heroic ancestors to the struggle for peace and justice was recognized by the establishment in 2024 of a single commemorative medal, “80 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945,” as well as the awarding of the honorary title “City of Labor Glory 1941–1945” to several cities in the CIS republics.

Paying tribute to the generation of victors, on Victory Day, May 9, military parades were held in the capitals and hero cities of the CIS countries, and flower-laying ceremonies were held at mass graves and sites of military glory. The annual cultural and educational project “Train of Memory” between Russia and Belarus was dedicated to preserving the historical memory of the Great Patriotic War.

To perpetuate the historical memory of the heroic generation that brought liberation from fascism to all humanity, and to pass it on to future generations, collections of memorials on the contributions of the former Soviet republics to the common Victory have been published. New monuments and obelisks have been erected at battlefield and burial sites, and monuments and memorial plaques have been renovated and restored.

The Victory Anniversary became a good occasion to create projects that brought together broadcasting organizations from the Commonwealth countries. They ensured the broadcasting of parades, ceremonial events, and video greetings in the capitals of the CIS countries. Based on the Interstate Information Pool, a video exchange package titled “80 Years of the Great Victory” was created; its website featured materials and videos produced by the Pool’s member broadcasting companies about their countries’ contribution to the common Victory over the nazi invaders.

The Belteleradio Company organized a large‑scale television marathon titled “Victory Day”. More than 20 special reports have been prepared, including a report from the Нero Сities of Russia and the Brest Hero Fortress, created in collaboration with the All‑Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.

The Kazakhstan Television and Radio Corporation produced the documentary film “Echo of War” about the descendants of front‑line soldiers who participated in the Great Patriotic War. A series of videos titled “Names of Courage” was released, highlighting the contribution of Kazakhstani citizens to the Victory. One of the most notable projects is the documentary film “Four Brave Ones,” which tells the story of the unparalleled feat of a female tank crew.

Hundreds of news stories and dozens of documentary films have been aired on the MIR and MIR 24 TV channels. A number of telemarathons were dedicated to the international campaign “Memory of the Heart,” which gives people the opportunity to share their memories of their relatives and loved ones who defended their homeland on the front lines and in the rear.

Themes of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War also permeated the activities of most Commonwealth bodies. The CIS Executive Committee has launched a memorial project called “Our Heroic History,” which tells the stories of employees’ relatives who served in the war.

The anniversary events served as a reminder of how fragile peace and interethnic harmony are and how carefully they must be preserved.

All the information provided via the links is in Russian.