81 years after the end of World War II, the Ukrainian people are once again forced to fight against evil that destroys and brings suffering. This was stated by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a speech on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism.
This is reported by Finway
The Contribution of Ukrainians to the Victory over Nazism
Zelensky reminded that during World War II, Ukrainians suffered some of the largest losses in the world. Millions of Ukrainian citizens fought in various armies, including the Red Army, the armies of Poland, the USA, Canada, and France, as well as in partisan and insurgent movements. Thousands of Ukrainians were among those who achieved victory over Nazism, and many of them distinguished themselves with heroism, for which over two thousand individuals were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
During the years of the war, about 7 million people were mobilized from the territory of Ukraine to the Red Army. Half of them perished, and most of those who survived returned home as disabled. In 1944, every third serviceman in the Red Army was Ukrainian, and in the infantry units of the 1st–4th Ukrainian fronts, the proportion of Ukrainians ranged from 60 to 80%.
Memory of the Victims and Parallels to Today
The total human losses of Ukraine from 1939 to 1945, including military and civilian, are estimated at 8–10 million people. During the war, nearly 700 cities and 28 thousand villages were destroyed, 550 industrial enterprises were relocated, as well as countless historical treasures. Ukraine’s material losses exceeded 45% of the total damage to the entire USSR.
“Unfortunately, 81 years later, we are once again forced to stop evil – also totalitarian, which brings nothing but ruins and mockery, and which is based on a similar ideology of hatred. An updated version of Nazism, marked: ‘made in Russia’. Today, such Russian aggression can and must be overcome by a united free world,” the president noted.
Zelensky expressed gratitude to all who do not allow the Russian regime to dictate the future of the world and emphasized that the defense of life and freedom from Putin is a worthy tribute to the memory of those who perished during World War II.
On May 8, Ukraine traditionally honors the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II.