#GreatPatrioticWar
🛩 On 6 April 1966, Soviet pilots Boris Kapustin and Yury Yanov performed a heroic feat in the skies above West Berlin — they refused to eject from their falling aircraft, instead steering it away from residential areas. They perished but saved the lives of many on the ground.
Both engines of their Yak-28 fighter-bomber, equipped with experimental top-secret technology, failed mid-flight. The aircraft was en-route (returning) from the Sverdlovsk Aviation Plant, and the cause of the malfunction was later determined to be clogged fuel tubes — paper stickers had not been removed during assembly.
Beneath the stricken aircraft lay a densely populated city. Kapustin, the flight commander, manoeuvred to avoid residential neighbourhoods. He offered navigator Yanov the chance to eject, but Yanov remained on board, fearing that his departure might compromise the aircraft’s aerodynamics and lead to total loss of control.
They fought to the last moment to protect civilians, ultimately directing the falling aircraft into Lake Stößensee. The Yak-28 sank, and the crew perished without leaving their combat post.
🕊 On 8 April 1966, a funeral ceremony was held to transfer the remains of the Soviet pilots to representatives of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. Delegations from cities across both East and West Germany came to pay their respects. Throughout the day, Germans arrived to honour the Soviet heroes.
🌟 Kapustin and Yanov were posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Banner by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on 10 May 1966.
🙏 A memorial plaque was installed at the crash site. In Eberswalde and seven other German cities, grateful residents erected commemorative signs. On 30 March 2001, a memorial was unveiled at the aviation museum at Finow Airfield.
Their sacrifice and eternal bravery continue to live on in the hearts of those who remember to this day.
🛩 On 6 April 1966, Soviet pilots Boris Kapustin and Yury Yanov performed a heroic feat in the skies above West Berlin — they refused to eject from their falling aircraft, instead steering it away from residential areas. They perished but saved the lives of many on the ground.
Both engines of their Yak-28 fighter-bomber, equipped with experimental top-secret technology, failed mid-flight. The aircraft was en-route (returning) from the Sverdlovsk Aviation Plant, and the cause of the malfunction was later determined to be clogged fuel tubes — paper stickers had not been removed during assembly.
Beneath the stricken aircraft lay a densely populated city. Kapustin, the flight commander, manoeuvred to avoid residential neighbourhoods. He offered navigator Yanov the chance to eject, but Yanov remained on board, fearing that his departure might compromise the aircraft’s aerodynamics and lead to total loss of control.
They fought to the last moment to protect civilians, ultimately directing the falling aircraft into Lake Stößensee. The Yak-28 sank, and the crew perished without leaving their combat post.
🕊 On 8 April 1966, a funeral ceremony was held to transfer the remains of the Soviet pilots to representatives of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. Delegations from cities across both East and West Germany came to pay their respects. Throughout the day, Germans arrived to honour the Soviet heroes.
🌟 Kapustin and Yanov were posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Banner by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on 10 May 1966.
🙏 A memorial plaque was installed at the crash site. In Eberswalde and seven other German cities, grateful residents erected commemorative signs. On 30 March 2001, a memorial was unveiled at the aviation museum at Finow Airfield.
Their sacrifice and eternal bravery continue to live on in the hearts of those who remember to this day.
👍1
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement at the opening ceremony of a TASS photo exhibition, “Their Immortal Heroism,” (Moscow, April 8, 2025)
💬Sergey Lavrov: We are delighted to open a photo exhibition, #TheirImmortalHeroism, at the Foreign Ministry today. It includes archival photographs, official statements and reports by TASS correspondents made in the past few months of the Great Patriotic War.
I would like to begin by expressing gratitude to the TASS management and staff for their contribution to preparing this unique exposition. It opens a series of events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and organised for the diplomatic corps accredited in our country.
☝️ When speaking about the Great Victory, we recall the combat heroism of Soviet soldiers, who have saved the world from the Nazi plague. The “information army” greatly contributed to the common efforts to defeat the enemy. The courageous TASS correspondents risked their lives every day to create a chronicle of the 1,418 days of that war. To this day, their photographs and reports remain a vital source of reliable information about those events.
TASS played a special role in exposing Nazi propaganda. The Agency’s materials revealed the criminal nature of Nazism and its deadly threat to humanity. Thanks to the journalists’ work, the world learned about the courageous defenders of Moscow, Leningrad and Stalingrad and about the atrocities the invaders committed in the occupied Soviet territories. TASS photographs were included in the verdict of the Nuremberg Trials.
The TASS Windows war-time posters made an invaluable contribution to Victory. They showed that art and satire can be a lethal weapon in capable hands. These posters have become widely popular not only in our country but also beyond it, where they could be acquired by subscription and included in the exhibitions held in Washington, Johannesburg, London, Beijing, Istanbul, Stockholm and Tehran.
❗️This TASS legacy is especially important today when more and more attempts are being made in the West to rewrite history and overhaul the political, international legal and moral results of the Great Victory in the Second World War. Our country’s role in defeating the enemy is being deliberately played down. The monstrous crimes committed by the Nazis and their accomplices and collaborators are being justified. The very principle of outlawing the man-hating Nazi ideology is being undermined. I would like to remind you that it is one of the fundamentals principles of the post-war world order, known as the Yalta-Potsdam world order, alongside the primacy of international law and the central role of the UN, and primarily its Security Council, in balancing the interests of states.
👉 In this situation, TASS remains a reliable keeper of historical truth. The archival materials collected during the war are an effective weapon in the battle against the falsification of history.
A relevant example is a letter, which you can see at the exhibition, from the head of Poland’s Provisional Government to the Soviet leadership, dated February 16, 1945, with assurances of eternal friendship between Polish, Russian and all other Soviet peoples. Equally eloquent are the photographs made in the liberated European cities, showing people welcome Soviet soldiers with joy and present them with flowers. The EU prefers to forget about these documents and is trying to eradicate this memory, but facts cannot be erased from history.
🕊Keeping the truth about the war is our common responsibility to those who have given their lives for peace and freedom. I believe that this exhibition can be shown not only in Russia but also beyond it, also based on the possibilities of the embassies and Russia Houses, wherever they exist.
Read in full
💬Sergey Lavrov: We are delighted to open a photo exhibition, #TheirImmortalHeroism, at the Foreign Ministry today. It includes archival photographs, official statements and reports by TASS correspondents made in the past few months of the Great Patriotic War.
I would like to begin by expressing gratitude to the TASS management and staff for their contribution to preparing this unique exposition. It opens a series of events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and organised for the diplomatic corps accredited in our country.
☝️ When speaking about the Great Victory, we recall the combat heroism of Soviet soldiers, who have saved the world from the Nazi plague. The “information army” greatly contributed to the common efforts to defeat the enemy. The courageous TASS correspondents risked their lives every day to create a chronicle of the 1,418 days of that war. To this day, their photographs and reports remain a vital source of reliable information about those events.
TASS played a special role in exposing Nazi propaganda. The Agency’s materials revealed the criminal nature of Nazism and its deadly threat to humanity. Thanks to the journalists’ work, the world learned about the courageous defenders of Moscow, Leningrad and Stalingrad and about the atrocities the invaders committed in the occupied Soviet territories. TASS photographs were included in the verdict of the Nuremberg Trials.
The TASS Windows war-time posters made an invaluable contribution to Victory. They showed that art and satire can be a lethal weapon in capable hands. These posters have become widely popular not only in our country but also beyond it, where they could be acquired by subscription and included in the exhibitions held in Washington, Johannesburg, London, Beijing, Istanbul, Stockholm and Tehran.
❗️This TASS legacy is especially important today when more and more attempts are being made in the West to rewrite history and overhaul the political, international legal and moral results of the Great Victory in the Second World War. Our country’s role in defeating the enemy is being deliberately played down. The monstrous crimes committed by the Nazis and their accomplices and collaborators are being justified. The very principle of outlawing the man-hating Nazi ideology is being undermined. I would like to remind you that it is one of the fundamentals principles of the post-war world order, known as the Yalta-Potsdam world order, alongside the primacy of international law and the central role of the UN, and primarily its Security Council, in balancing the interests of states.
👉 In this situation, TASS remains a reliable keeper of historical truth. The archival materials collected during the war are an effective weapon in the battle against the falsification of history.
A relevant example is a letter, which you can see at the exhibition, from the head of Poland’s Provisional Government to the Soviet leadership, dated February 16, 1945, with assurances of eternal friendship between Polish, Russian and all other Soviet peoples. Equally eloquent are the photographs made in the liberated European cities, showing people welcome Soviet soldiers with joy and present them with flowers. The EU prefers to forget about these documents and is trying to eradicate this memory, but facts cannot be erased from history.
🕊Keeping the truth about the war is our common responsibility to those who have given their lives for peace and freedom. I believe that this exhibition can be shown not only in Russia but also beyond it, also based on the possibilities of the embassies and Russia Houses, wherever they exist.
Read in full
On April 8–9, the IV Eurasian Meeting of Russian Women Compatriots was held in Doha, Qatar, under the auspices of the Russian Government Commission on Compatriots Living Abroad.
The forum brought together 60 delegates—active members of Russian-speaking communities abroad—from around 50 countries.
During the discussions, participants thoroughly examined the prospects for consolidating the compatriot women's movement and the further development of all areas of their activities. Concrete steps were outlined to protect historical memory and promote Russian spiritual and moral values, language, and culture.
Chairperson of the Russian culture club in Singapore Oksana Melnik represented Singapore.
The forum brought together 60 delegates—active members of Russian-speaking communities abroad—from around 50 countries.
During the discussions, participants thoroughly examined the prospects for consolidating the compatriot women's movement and the further development of all areas of their activities. Concrete steps were outlined to protect historical memory and promote Russian spiritual and moral values, language, and culture.
Chairperson of the Russian culture club in Singapore Oksana Melnik represented Singapore.
🇷🇺🇺🇸 April 10 marked a round of Russian-American expert consultations in Istanbul, aimed at normalising the operations of the diplomatic missions of both nations and addressing accumulated bilateral “irritants.”
The delegations, led by Russian Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter, exchanged diplomatic notes to formalise agreed commitments. These commitments are designed to facilitate unimpeded banking and financial services for Russian and American diplomatic missions, in addition to ensuring the fulfilment of the Russian Federation’s contributions to the budgets of the UN and other international organisations.
In the context of the issue raised by the Russian side regarding the return of six diplomatic real estate properties confiscated by the United States authorities and lawfully owned by the Russian Federation, the parties agreed to develop a roadmap. Ambassador Alexander Darchiev emphasised the importance of urgent practical measures in this regard, including immediate access for Russian representatives to inspect these premises and assess incurred damages.
Discussions also continued on easing visa processing and travel regulations for diplomatic staff within the host countries. The Russian Ambassador pressed for accelerated progress in resolving pivotal issues to bolster mutual trust and expand bilateral business and social ties, such as resuming direct air flights.
Following the consultations, the parties resolved to promptly refine the proposals tabled. The objective remains to achieve mutually acceptable solutions ahead of the next round, the timing of which is currently under coordination.
#RussiaUS
The delegations, led by Russian Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter, exchanged diplomatic notes to formalise agreed commitments. These commitments are designed to facilitate unimpeded banking and financial services for Russian and American diplomatic missions, in addition to ensuring the fulfilment of the Russian Federation’s contributions to the budgets of the UN and other international organisations.
In the context of the issue raised by the Russian side regarding the return of six diplomatic real estate properties confiscated by the United States authorities and lawfully owned by the Russian Federation, the parties agreed to develop a roadmap. Ambassador Alexander Darchiev emphasised the importance of urgent practical measures in this regard, including immediate access for Russian representatives to inspect these premises and assess incurred damages.
Discussions also continued on easing visa processing and travel regulations for diplomatic staff within the host countries. The Russian Ambassador pressed for accelerated progress in resolving pivotal issues to bolster mutual trust and expand bilateral business and social ties, such as resuming direct air flights.
Following the consultations, the parties resolved to promptly refine the proposals tabled. The objective remains to achieve mutually acceptable solutions ahead of the next round, the timing of which is currently under coordination.
#RussiaUS
🚀 On April 12, 1961, at 9.07 am Moscow Time, the Vostok spacecraft with Yury Gagarin aboard made its historic lift-off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This first manned space mission in the history of humankind heralded the beginning of the Space Age.
Yury #Gagarin was only 27 years old then. He had experienced various hardships earlier in life, spending his childhood years in his home town in Nazi-occupied territory during the Great Patriotic War. After the war, he joined the Saratov air club, for many years he trained hard to become a professional pilot. Gagarin eventually joined the first Soviet cosmonaut squad.
On that memorable April morning, he was preparing to take off into the unknown where no human being had ever been before. A photographer took images of the cosmonaut’s face before the flight. Gagarin showed absolutely no fear, flashing his famous smile and concentrating on his responsible assignment.
🧑🚀 Yury Gagarin spent 108 minutes in outer space, orbited the Earth and successfully landed near the village of Smelovka in the Saratov Region.
While in orbit, he maintained radio contact with Earth, conducted observations through a porthole, controlled the operation of the spacecraft’s systems and made a few experiments.
📰 The media widely announced Yury Gagarin’s mission 55 minutes after the Vostok rocket lifted off. It became the most quoted news story worldwide. Instantly, a Soviet pilot & cosmonaut became the most famous person on Earth.
Two days later, the residents of the Soviet capital took to the streets, carrying flowers and posters that welcomed Gagarin who had arrived in Moscow. In late April, the first man in space went on a global tour to share his impressions with people all over the world.
🌐 In the next two years following this history-making event, Yury Gagarin visited over 30 countries where he was given a hero’s welcome. His tour was unofficially named the Peace Mission. Despite his immense popularity, Gagarin remained his own usual self and continued to engage in what he liked most – aviation and cosmonautics – for the rest of his life.
Yury #Gagarin was only 27 years old then. He had experienced various hardships earlier in life, spending his childhood years in his home town in Nazi-occupied territory during the Great Patriotic War. After the war, he joined the Saratov air club, for many years he trained hard to become a professional pilot. Gagarin eventually joined the first Soviet cosmonaut squad.
On that memorable April morning, he was preparing to take off into the unknown where no human being had ever been before. A photographer took images of the cosmonaut’s face before the flight. Gagarin showed absolutely no fear, flashing his famous smile and concentrating on his responsible assignment.
🧑🚀 Yury Gagarin spent 108 minutes in outer space, orbited the Earth and successfully landed near the village of Smelovka in the Saratov Region.
While in orbit, he maintained radio contact with Earth, conducted observations through a porthole, controlled the operation of the spacecraft’s systems and made a few experiments.
📰 The media widely announced Yury Gagarin’s mission 55 minutes after the Vostok rocket lifted off. It became the most quoted news story worldwide. Instantly, a Soviet pilot & cosmonaut became the most famous person on Earth.
Two days later, the residents of the Soviet capital took to the streets, carrying flowers and posters that welcomed Gagarin who had arrived in Moscow. In late April, the first man in space went on a global tour to share his impressions with people all over the world.
🌐 In the next two years following this history-making event, Yury Gagarin visited over 30 countries where he was given a hero’s welcome. His tour was unofficially named the Peace Mission. Despite his immense popularity, Gagarin remained his own usual self and continued to engage in what he liked most – aviation and cosmonautics – for the rest of his life.
👍1
🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to the media questions during his remarks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (Antalya, April 12, 2025)
Key points:
• More and more countries want to determine their life themselves, to have fair treatment, to have fair competition in economy, trade, in other areas, just in line with the principles of globalization, which were promoted by our Western friends, especially by the United States, for so many decades.
• What we observe is fragmentation of the world economy. This is the time of uncertainty, I would say. Nobody knows how the situation with world trade and investment is going to end.
• The United States recognize that other countries also have their national interests, and those interests would never coincide fully, maybe even half of these interests would not be similar. But when the interests, especially the interests of big countries, coincide, it is essential for them to find ways to materialize them into mutually beneficial economic, logistical, and other projects, while when these interests contradict each other, it is the responsibility and duty of countries, especially if we speak about big powers, not to allow these differences to degenerate into confrontation, especially the hot confrontation.
• I will repeat again what I said then, and I repeated this publicly also, when we speak about eliminating root causes of any conflict, including Ukrainian conflict. This is the only way to resolve the problem and to establish long-lasting peace - remove root causes.
• If Ukrainian nazi regime, I cannot describe it otherwise, enjoys the cover from the European Union, which as I just mentioned, never dropped a word about the situation with human rights in Ukraine, then this is not our problem. We listen to those people who voted at the referendum to join Russia to restore all their rights which belong to them by international law and by history, by justice.
• The European Union is not happy. And instead of doing something about this situation for the sake of their citizens Brussels people threatened to stop importing any grain from Russia. They're very specific leaders. They say that Kaja Kallas, Annalena Baerbock, they were saying yes, when criticized by the people who saying, “We live worse than before”. Yes, we understand, but our electorate should suffer for the sake of Ukraine, while at the same time thousands and thousands of Ukrainians living there in European luxury, buying very expensive vehicles. But this is what the European elite calls European values, which they defend in the person of Zelensky regime.
• I gave to our colleagues from Türkiye, to Minister Hakan Fidan, what we give to Americans, to UN, to OSCE, the list of facts, listing the attacks by Ukraine during the last three weeks against Russian energy infrastructure.
• We understand that Zelensky hates all Russians, so he gives orders. Either he gives orders, and they are not taken, or he is lying, that he is giving these orders. It's a tragedy. It's a tragedy.
Read in full
Key points:
• More and more countries want to determine their life themselves, to have fair treatment, to have fair competition in economy, trade, in other areas, just in line with the principles of globalization, which were promoted by our Western friends, especially by the United States, for so many decades.
• What we observe is fragmentation of the world economy. This is the time of uncertainty, I would say. Nobody knows how the situation with world trade and investment is going to end.
• The United States recognize that other countries also have their national interests, and those interests would never coincide fully, maybe even half of these interests would not be similar. But when the interests, especially the interests of big countries, coincide, it is essential for them to find ways to materialize them into mutually beneficial economic, logistical, and other projects, while when these interests contradict each other, it is the responsibility and duty of countries, especially if we speak about big powers, not to allow these differences to degenerate into confrontation, especially the hot confrontation.
• I will repeat again what I said then, and I repeated this publicly also, when we speak about eliminating root causes of any conflict, including Ukrainian conflict. This is the only way to resolve the problem and to establish long-lasting peace - remove root causes.
• If Ukrainian nazi regime, I cannot describe it otherwise, enjoys the cover from the European Union, which as I just mentioned, never dropped a word about the situation with human rights in Ukraine, then this is not our problem. We listen to those people who voted at the referendum to join Russia to restore all their rights which belong to them by international law and by history, by justice.
• The European Union is not happy. And instead of doing something about this situation for the sake of their citizens Brussels people threatened to stop importing any grain from Russia. They're very specific leaders. They say that Kaja Kallas, Annalena Baerbock, they were saying yes, when criticized by the people who saying, “We live worse than before”. Yes, we understand, but our electorate should suffer for the sake of Ukraine, while at the same time thousands and thousands of Ukrainians living there in European luxury, buying very expensive vehicles. But this is what the European elite calls European values, which they defend in the person of Zelensky regime.
• I gave to our colleagues from Türkiye, to Minister Hakan Fidan, what we give to Americans, to UN, to OSCE, the list of facts, listing the attacks by Ukraine during the last three weeks against Russian energy infrastructure.
• We understand that Zelensky hates all Russians, so he gives orders. Either he gives orders, and they are not taken, or he is lying, that he is giving these orders. It's a tragedy. It's a tragedy.
Read in full
#Victory80🏅
8️⃣0️⃣ years ago, on April 13, 1945, the Soviet forces liberated the capital of Austria during the #Vienna Offensive.
🌟 By the spring of 1945, the Red Army drove the Nazi invaders out of Poland,Hungary and Slovakia and rapidly launched an offensive towards Germany. The Third Reich’s defeat was only a matter of time: the Soviet forces were preparing to attack Berlin.
***
Austria, annexed by the Nazis as a result of anschluss in 1938, served as a shield for the Third Reich’s southern regions during #WWII. The capital of Austria — the city of Vienna — was a strategically important point of the Nazi defence, which the enemy was committed to hold at any cost.
⚔️ In March 1945, during the successful offensive along the Austrian line of advance, the Red Army broke the resistance of the Nazi units deployed between the Danube and Lake Balaton (Hungary) and defeated the troops of the Nazi army group 'South'. Having advanced by that time up to 80 kilometers to Vienna, the Soviet forces launched the operation to liberate the Austrian capital.
The enemy undertook extensive preprations to hold the city. The streets were barricaded and mine-strewn. Firing points were set up in residential buildings. Destroyed houses were used to camouflage tanks and artillery pieces. All bridges over the Danube were prepared by the Nazis for demolition. In the event of retreat, the Nazis were ready to tear down the Austrian capital to the ground, including by destroying (!) itshistorical architectural heritage.
On April 5, 1945, the Soviet forces attacked the Nazi garrison in Vienna. Intense fighting erupted on the city outskirts. The Red Army was confronted by the most prepared enemy units and formations, including SS tank divisions. Soviet soldiers fought to death against the Nazis for every quarter and every building of the city.
With a view to prevent victims among the city's population and protect Vienna from destruction by the Nazis, the Soviet command addressed local residents:
📢The Red Army entered Austria not to occupy its territory but only to defeat the enemy Nazi troops and liberate the country from German occupation. It also called on the Vienna residents to help fight the Nazis — this call was answered by many Austrian patriots.
On April 13, the last enemy point of resistance in the city centre was crushed, with Vienna being completely liberated from the Nazis.
During the fierce and brutal fighting for Vienna, the Red Army crushed Wehrmacht's 11 armoured divisions, destroyed the 6th SS Tank Army, and captured more than 130,000 enemy soldiers and officers. The Soviet people paid a high price for the liberation of Vienna from the Nazis: 38,000 Red Army soldiers gave their lives for saving the city from fascists.
Having liberated Vienna, our country provided aid to the city residents. The population was supplied with food: hundreds of tonnes of grain, meat, sugar, salt and other products were given to the Austrians. After the war, the people of Vienna recalled how their “fear of hunger had disappeared” and spoke with gratitude about the generosity of the Soviet people, which “exceeded all expectations.”
🎙 An excerpt from the briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (April 9, 2025):
***
🌟 A monument to the Soviet soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the liberation of Austria from Nazism was unveiled on August 19, 1945, on #Schwarzenbergplatz in the centre of Vienna. The country has 217 monuments and war graves on its territory.
Tens of thousands Red Army soldiers, who saved Europe from the Nazi plague, are buried in Austria.
❗️ In 1955, under the State Treaty for the Re-establishment of Independent and Democratic Austria (Art.19), Vienna took the obligations to respect, preserve and maintain the graves of the soldiers on Austrian territory.
8️⃣0️⃣ years ago, on April 13, 1945, the Soviet forces liberated the capital of Austria during the #Vienna Offensive.
***
Austria, annexed by the Nazis as a result of anschluss in 1938, served as a shield for the Third Reich’s southern regions during #WWII. The capital of Austria — the city of Vienna — was a strategically important point of the Nazi defence, which the enemy was committed to hold at any cost.
⚔️ In March 1945, during the successful offensive along the Austrian line of advance, the Red Army broke the resistance of the Nazi units deployed between the Danube and Lake Balaton (Hungary) and defeated the troops of the Nazi army group 'South'. Having advanced by that time up to 80 kilometers to Vienna, the Soviet forces launched the operation to liberate the Austrian capital.
The enemy undertook extensive preprations to hold the city. The streets were barricaded and mine-strewn. Firing points were set up in residential buildings. Destroyed houses were used to camouflage tanks and artillery pieces. All bridges over the Danube were prepared by the Nazis for demolition. In the event of retreat, the Nazis were ready to tear down the Austrian capital to the ground, including by destroying (!) itshistorical architectural heritage.
On April 5, 1945, the Soviet forces attacked the Nazi garrison in Vienna. Intense fighting erupted on the city outskirts. The Red Army was confronted by the most prepared enemy units and formations, including SS tank divisions. Soviet soldiers fought to death against the Nazis for every quarter and every building of the city.
With a view to prevent victims among the city's population and protect Vienna from destruction by the Nazis, the Soviet command addressed local residents:
📢The Red Army entered Austria not to occupy its territory but only to defeat the enemy Nazi troops and liberate the country from German occupation. It also called on the Vienna residents to help fight the Nazis — this call was answered by many Austrian patriots.
On April 13, the last enemy point of resistance in the city centre was crushed, with Vienna being completely liberated from the Nazis.
During the fierce and brutal fighting for Vienna, the Red Army crushed Wehrmacht's 11 armoured divisions, destroyed the 6th SS Tank Army, and captured more than 130,000 enemy soldiers and officers. The Soviet people paid a high price for the liberation of Vienna from the Nazis: 38,000 Red Army soldiers gave their lives for saving the city from fascists.
Having liberated Vienna, our country provided aid to the city residents. The population was supplied with food: hundreds of tonnes of grain, meat, sugar, salt and other products were given to the Austrians. After the war, the people of Vienna recalled how their “fear of hunger had disappeared” and spoke with gratitude about the generosity of the Soviet people, which “exceeded all expectations.”
🎙 An excerpt from the briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (April 9, 2025):
💬 “By acting swiftly and selflessly, the Soviet forces prevented the destruction of Vienna.
It was thanks to the decision by the Soviet command not to use artillery that Vienna has preserved its historical outlook.”
***
Tens of thousands Red Army soldiers, who saved Europe from the Nazi plague, are buried in Austria.
❗️ In 1955, under the State Treaty for the Re-establishment of Independent and Democratic Austria (Art.19), Vienna took the obligations to respect, preserve and maintain the graves of the soldiers on Austrian territory.
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#RussiaHelps
⚡️ Russia’s EMERCOM has sent another large package of humanitarian aid to Myanmar.
🛬 An Il-76 aircraft of the Emergencies Ministry delivered more than 30 tonnes of essential supplies, including canned goods, grains, sugar, and medical equipment.
⚡️ Russia’s EMERCOM has sent another large package of humanitarian aid to Myanmar.
🛬 An Il-76 aircraft of the Emergencies Ministry delivered more than 30 tonnes of essential supplies, including canned goods, grains, sugar, and medical equipment.
👍1
🎙 Address of Federation Council of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to parliaments of foreign countries and peoples of the world on unacceptability of distorting the history of the Second World War and rehabilitating Nazism
💬 May 9, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of historic victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War. The war unleashed by Nazi Germany and its satellites claimed the lives of 27 million Soviet citizens. Millions of people became prisoners of Nazi death camps, lost their homes, and were deported for forced labour to Germany and other countries under its control.
The Great Victory was achieved through the unwavering determination and bravery of the Soviet people and their strong resolve to defeat Nazism which presented a threat to humanity. The Allies of the Soviet Union made an important contribution to defeating the Third Reich.
The International Military Tribunal (Nuremberg Tribunal) brought before court and handed down sentences to the main war criminals of the European Axis countries. It held the Nazi regime leaders accountable for crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, among others. The facts of banishment and extermination of the Soviet civilian population by Nazis and their accomplices, which was established in the verdict handed down by the Nuremberg Tribunal, must be regarded as genocide of the peoples of the Soviet Union.
Thanks to victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazism, proper conditions for forming a modern system of international relations were created, and the United Nations Organisation (UN) was established.
The international law principles recognised by the Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal and expressed in the verdict passed by the Nuremberg Tribunal were confirmed by UN General Assembly Resolution 95(I) of December 11, 1946.
The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation supports the annual adoption by the UN General Assembly of the resolution titled «Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance», as well as Resolution 79/272 of March 4, 2025 titled «Eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War», co-sponsored by 54 countries.
The Russian Federation senators express their concern about the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to include non-aligned European countries, the militarisation of the European Union, and the support it accords to the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine. Europe was the starting point of both world wars. For this reason, it bears a unique responsibility to humanity in preventing another global conflict.
☝️ Denying the Soviet Union’s decisive role in Victory of the Anti-hitlerite Coalition over the Nazi Germany and its satellites, glorifying Nazi criminals and their accomplices, and demolishing and desecrating monuments to Soviet liberator soldiers are all immoral and blasphemous acts.
The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation calls on the parliaments of foreign countries and the peoples of the world to counter any attempts to falsify history, to rehabilitate or glorify Nazism, fascism, or militarism, to condemn the encouragement of the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine and the incitement of another world war, and to demand that those who dishonour the memory of the liberator soldiers and those who fought against Nazism be brought to justice.
❗️Only our joint efforts can protect the truth about the Second World War, counter the rise of neo-Nazism, and avert the recurrence of brutal crimes against humanity.
💬 May 9, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of historic victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War. The war unleashed by Nazi Germany and its satellites claimed the lives of 27 million Soviet citizens. Millions of people became prisoners of Nazi death camps, lost their homes, and were deported for forced labour to Germany and other countries under its control.
The Great Victory was achieved through the unwavering determination and bravery of the Soviet people and their strong resolve to defeat Nazism which presented a threat to humanity. The Allies of the Soviet Union made an important contribution to defeating the Third Reich.
The International Military Tribunal (Nuremberg Tribunal) brought before court and handed down sentences to the main war criminals of the European Axis countries. It held the Nazi regime leaders accountable for crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, among others. The facts of banishment and extermination of the Soviet civilian population by Nazis and their accomplices, which was established in the verdict handed down by the Nuremberg Tribunal, must be regarded as genocide of the peoples of the Soviet Union.
Thanks to victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazism, proper conditions for forming a modern system of international relations were created, and the United Nations Organisation (UN) was established.
The international law principles recognised by the Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal and expressed in the verdict passed by the Nuremberg Tribunal were confirmed by UN General Assembly Resolution 95(I) of December 11, 1946.
The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation supports the annual adoption by the UN General Assembly of the resolution titled «Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance», as well as Resolution 79/272 of March 4, 2025 titled «Eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War», co-sponsored by 54 countries.
The Russian Federation senators express their concern about the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to include non-aligned European countries, the militarisation of the European Union, and the support it accords to the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine. Europe was the starting point of both world wars. For this reason, it bears a unique responsibility to humanity in preventing another global conflict.
☝️ Denying the Soviet Union’s decisive role in Victory of the Anti-hitlerite Coalition over the Nazi Germany and its satellites, glorifying Nazi criminals and their accomplices, and demolishing and desecrating monuments to Soviet liberator soldiers are all immoral and blasphemous acts.
The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation calls on the parliaments of foreign countries and the peoples of the world to counter any attempts to falsify history, to rehabilitate or glorify Nazism, fascism, or militarism, to condemn the encouragement of the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine and the incitement of another world war, and to demand that those who dishonour the memory of the liberator soldiers and those who fought against Nazism be brought to justice.
❗️Only our joint efforts can protect the truth about the Second World War, counter the rise of neo-Nazism, and avert the recurrence of brutal crimes against humanity.
🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Kommersant newspaper (Moscow, April 14, 2025)
READ IN FULL
#RussiaUSA
• Restoring our dialogue with President of the United States Donald Trump is a natural step. Importantly, both Sides are willing to move in this direction despite the many challenges and the divergence of our national interests on several, if not most of the international matters. We need to hold meetings and treat each other as well-educated and polite people by listening and hearing each other.
• The sincere desire to transition to normality shown by President Donald Trump is met with resistance after recent political upheavals that have rocked the Washington-based elites. They are preparing some moves behind the scenes, using their lobbies and the media. Their aim is to prevent President Donald Trump from mending relations with Russia and putting them back on track as they should be between two great powers and between all countries, for that matter.
#NATO #Ukraine
• International humanitarian law explicitly prohibits placement of military facilities and weapons in or around civilian sites.
• Since the onset of the [Ukrainian] crisis, there have been countless instances of artillery and air defence systems deployed in [Ukrainian] city quarters next to kindergartens. The internet was full of videos showing Ukrainian women yelling at the military telling them to leave retail outlets and playgrounds, but they keep doing so to this day.
• We have verified information about who was inside the building that was struck in Sumy. It was yet another gathering of Ukrainian military commanders alongside their Western counterparts operating under the guise of mercenaries, or someone else.
• NATO military personnel are there and are directly in charge of the operations. Everyone is aware of that. Even The New York Times has reported that U.S. military staff have played a central role in orchestrating attacks on Russia from the outset. Without their involvement, the vast majority of long-range missile strikes would never have happened.
• President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the decision by the Joe Biden administration to drag Ukraine into NATO was a major mistake. Among other things, it served as a trigger, or one of the triggers, in terms of what is happening today in Ukraine. President Trump has recognised in public several times that he viewed this as one of the root causes.
#UkraineCrisis
• Speaking at the Russia's Foreign Ministry on June 14, 2024, President Vladimir Putin laid out a clear framework for a lasting, reliable and just settlement [of the Ukraine crisis] which would primarily focus on fulfilling the interests of the people and ensuring that human rights are respected <...> as per the UN Charter.
• For us the future of the people is what matters most, and saying the territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be violated means letting Russians, the Russian-speaking people who escaped from the Nazi regime end up at the mercy of these beasts.
• All peacekeeping “arrangements” painted by “macrons” and “starmers” seek to preserve at least a small piece of land as home to the blatantly Nazi and Russophobic regime designed to be used for preparing another war against Russia. This poses a major challenge for the West’s reputation and credibility.
READ IN FULL
#RussiaUSA
• Restoring our dialogue with President of the United States Donald Trump is a natural step. Importantly, both Sides are willing to move in this direction despite the many challenges and the divergence of our national interests on several, if not most of the international matters. We need to hold meetings and treat each other as well-educated and polite people by listening and hearing each other.
• The sincere desire to transition to normality shown by President Donald Trump is met with resistance after recent political upheavals that have rocked the Washington-based elites. They are preparing some moves behind the scenes, using their lobbies and the media. Their aim is to prevent President Donald Trump from mending relations with Russia and putting them back on track as they should be between two great powers and between all countries, for that matter.
#NATO #Ukraine
• International humanitarian law explicitly prohibits placement of military facilities and weapons in or around civilian sites.
• Since the onset of the [Ukrainian] crisis, there have been countless instances of artillery and air defence systems deployed in [Ukrainian] city quarters next to kindergartens. The internet was full of videos showing Ukrainian women yelling at the military telling them to leave retail outlets and playgrounds, but they keep doing so to this day.
• We have verified information about who was inside the building that was struck in Sumy. It was yet another gathering of Ukrainian military commanders alongside their Western counterparts operating under the guise of mercenaries, or someone else.
• NATO military personnel are there and are directly in charge of the operations. Everyone is aware of that. Even The New York Times has reported that U.S. military staff have played a central role in orchestrating attacks on Russia from the outset. Without their involvement, the vast majority of long-range missile strikes would never have happened.
• President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the decision by the Joe Biden administration to drag Ukraine into NATO was a major mistake. Among other things, it served as a trigger, or one of the triggers, in terms of what is happening today in Ukraine. President Trump has recognised in public several times that he viewed this as one of the root causes.
#UkraineCrisis
• Speaking at the Russia's Foreign Ministry on June 14, 2024, President Vladimir Putin laid out a clear framework for a lasting, reliable and just settlement [of the Ukraine crisis] which would primarily focus on fulfilling the interests of the people and ensuring that human rights are respected <...> as per the UN Charter.
• For us the future of the people is what matters most, and saying the territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be violated means letting Russians, the Russian-speaking people who escaped from the Nazi regime end up at the mercy of these beasts.
• All peacekeeping “arrangements” painted by “macrons” and “starmers” seek to preserve at least a small piece of land as home to the blatantly Nazi and Russophobic regime designed to be used for preparing another war against Russia. This poses a major challenge for the West’s reputation and credibility.
🇷🇺🇺🇸📞 On April 17, 2025, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a telephone conversation.
Secretary Rubio, who is currently in Paris, informed the Russian side about the recent engagements that he and US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had in the French capital. These discussions involved representatives from Ukraine, France, and several other European nations. It was underscored that these contacts were in alignment with the framework of ongoing consultations between Washington and Moscow, including the recent dialogue between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to continue collaborative efforts with American counterparts to comprehensively address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.
The Foreign Minister and Secretary of State concurred on the necessity to maintain prompt communication channels, particularly in light of forthcoming meetings scheduled by American and European officials with Ukrainian representatives next week.
#RussiaUSA
Secretary Rubio, who is currently in Paris, informed the Russian side about the recent engagements that he and US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had in the French capital. These discussions involved representatives from Ukraine, France, and several other European nations. It was underscored that these contacts were in alignment with the framework of ongoing consultations between Washington and Moscow, including the recent dialogue between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to continue collaborative efforts with American counterparts to comprehensively address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.
The Foreign Minister and Secretary of State concurred on the necessity to maintain prompt communication channels, particularly in light of forthcoming meetings scheduled by American and European officials with Ukrainian representatives next week.
#RussiaUSA
Media is too big
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⚡️ President of Russia Vladimir Putin announces Easter ceasefire
During a meeting at the Kremlin with the Chief of the General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov President Vladimir Putin declared that the Russian Side is ceasing all military action starting April 19, 06:00 pm MSK to April 21, 00:00 am MSK
💬 President Putin: Guided by humanitarian motives, the Russian Side announces an Easter ceasefire from 06:00 pm today to 00:00 am Monday. I hereby order all military operations ceased for this period. We assume that the Ukrainian Side will follow our example. At the same time, our forces should be prepared to repel possible ceasefire violations and provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive acts on their part.
During a meeting at the Kremlin with the Chief of the General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov President Vladimir Putin declared that the Russian Side is ceasing all military action starting April 19, 06:00 pm MSK to April 21, 00:00 am MSK
💬 President Putin: Guided by humanitarian motives, the Russian Side announces an Easter ceasefire from 06:00 pm today to 00:00 am Monday. I hereby order all military operations ceased for this period. We assume that the Ukrainian Side will follow our example. At the same time, our forces should be prepared to repel possible ceasefire violations and provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive acts on their part.
Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🕯 Russia has received the news of the passing of Pope Francis with profound sorrow.
The late pontiff will be remembered as an eminent religious and global leader, a champion of humanist ideals and moral principles in international affairs, whose unwavering dedication to peace and justice earned him the well-deserved respect of hundreds of millions – both Catholics and followers of other faiths.
During his pontificate, Russia and the Holy See consistently advanced constructive dialogue, intensifying joint efforts to safeguard traditional spiritual and ethical values and to forge a just world order ensuring harmonious and equitable coexistence among all nations and peoples.
Russia trusts that Pope Francis’ spiritual legacy will guide his successors who share his commitment to reinforcing global peace, security, and stability.
Russia extends its deepest condolences to the Holy See and to every Catholic holding the memory of Francis in their hearts.
The late pontiff will be remembered as an eminent religious and global leader, a champion of humanist ideals and moral principles in international affairs, whose unwavering dedication to peace and justice earned him the well-deserved respect of hundreds of millions – both Catholics and followers of other faiths.
During his pontificate, Russia and the Holy See consistently advanced constructive dialogue, intensifying joint efforts to safeguard traditional spiritual and ethical values and to forge a just world order ensuring harmonious and equitable coexistence among all nations and peoples.
Russia trusts that Pope Francis’ spiritual legacy will guide his successors who share his commitment to reinforcing global peace, security, and stability.
Russia extends its deepest condolences to the Holy See and to every Catholic holding the memory of Francis in their hearts.
Article by Russian Ambassador to Singapore Nikolay Kudashev “The Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945: lessons and modern times"
Key points:
- In spite of attempts of historical revisionism, Russia continues to defend the truth that it was the Soviet Union, the Soviet people and the Red Army that made the main and decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism.
- Red Army saved entire peoples of Europe from destruction and enslavement, from the horrors of Holocaust, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives of Soviet soldiers.
- Russia rightfully joined the circle of architects of the post-war world, became one of the founding countries of the UN, contributed to the development of the UN Charter, which remains the cornerstone of international relations to this day.
- It is particularly shameful that today, in a number of European countries, individuals who have stained themselves by collaborating with the Nazis are suddenly granted the status of war veterans or even elevated to the rank of national heroes.
- Modern heroes continue the cause of their fathers and grandfathers, liberating people from Nazi oppression on the fields of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine. The task of denazification is an extremely important mission, comparable to the feats of heroes of the past.
#Victory80 #Победа80 #GreatPatrioticWar
Key points:
- In spite of attempts of historical revisionism, Russia continues to defend the truth that it was the Soviet Union, the Soviet people and the Red Army that made the main and decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism.
- Red Army saved entire peoples of Europe from destruction and enslavement, from the horrors of Holocaust, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives of Soviet soldiers.
- Russia rightfully joined the circle of architects of the post-war world, became one of the founding countries of the UN, contributed to the development of the UN Charter, which remains the cornerstone of international relations to this day.
- It is particularly shameful that today, in a number of European countries, individuals who have stained themselves by collaborating with the Nazis are suddenly granted the status of war veterans or even elevated to the rank of national heroes.
- Modern heroes continue the cause of their fathers and grandfathers, liberating people from Nazi oppression on the fields of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine. The task of denazification is an extremely important mission, comparable to the feats of heroes of the past.
#Victory80 #Победа80 #GreatPatrioticWar
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On April 23, Ambassador of Russia to Singapore Nikolay Kudashev took part at the opening ceremony of the Moscow pavilion at the GITEX ASIA Singapore 2025 exhibition (read full account).
In his remarks Ambassador said: "As one of the largest metropolises in the region, Moscow is actively engaged in these processes (of building a solid and flexible architecture of cooperation across Eurasia) — serving as a platform for dialogue, a magnet for investment, and a developer of cutting-edge digital solutions.
This stand represents exactly that image of Moscow: high-tech, mobile, human-centered, and open to sharing best practices".
On the sidelines of the exhibition, Ambassador gave an interview to the “Big Asia” TV channel.
In his remarks Ambassador said: "As one of the largest metropolises in the region, Moscow is actively engaged in these processes (of building a solid and flexible architecture of cooperation across Eurasia) — serving as a platform for dialogue, a magnet for investment, and a developer of cutting-edge digital solutions.
This stand represents exactly that image of Moscow: high-tech, mobile, human-centered, and open to sharing best practices".
On the sidelines of the exhibition, Ambassador gave an interview to the “Big Asia” TV channel.
On April 24, an Immortal Regiment march was held at the Russian Embassy in Singapore.
Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev, Chairman of the Russia-Singapore Business Council (RSBC) Nikolay Volobuev, representatives of Moscow Government, RSBC, Russian House in Singapore, Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Aviation Institute, Russian Cultural Club, Russian language school "UpSchool", employees of the Embassy, Russian compatriots living in Singapore and their families took part in the march to commemorate theirs fathers, grandfathers and all those who bravely foughtduring the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945.
Among participants were also students of the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore.
The event was one in the series ofcommemorative activities to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
#Victory80 #ImmortalRegiment #Победа80 #GreatPatrioticWar
Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev, Chairman of the Russia-Singapore Business Council (RSBC) Nikolay Volobuev, representatives of Moscow Government, RSBC, Russian House in Singapore, Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Aviation Institute, Russian Cultural Club, Russian language school "UpSchool", employees of the Embassy, Russian compatriots living in Singapore and their families took part in the march to commemorate theirs fathers, grandfathers and all those who bravely foughtduring the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945.
Among participants were also students of the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore.
The event was one in the series ofcommemorative activities to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
#Victory80 #ImmortalRegiment #Победа80 #GreatPatrioticWar
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