"Ukraine has joined the European tradition of commemorating Victory Day over Nazism on May 8 for more than a decade. On this day, we honor the memory of the millions of victims of that terrible and bloody war with deep respect," these thoughts were expressed in an article by Yuriy Husyev, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Azerbaijan, APA reports.
According to the ambassador, on May 8 this year, the entire world — including Ukraine — will mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazism and the end of the Second World War in Europe: "This date holds special significance for both Ukraine and Azerbaijan. The families of our peoples know very well the price of a fair peace. The Ukrainian people have experienced a national tragedy — losing over 8 million lives, including 5 million civilians and 3 million soldiers — and played a crucial and decisive role in the defeat of the Hitler regime."
The diplomat recalled that from June 22, 1941, with the intervention of Germany and its allies in the USSR, Ukrainian territory turned into a battleground of intense fighting: "About 7 million Ukrainians were mobilized into the Red Army; half of them died in combat, and the majority of the survivors were left disabled. Ukraine became one of the main fronts of the war, with the front line shifting first from west to east, then from east to west, leaving destruction and loss in every city, village, and family across the country."
Yuriy Husyev noted that at the beginning of the war, the Ukrainian people did not have their own independent state and were divided among different countries:
"Both the Nazis and the Communists disregarding the value of human life, used the 'Ukrainian issue' and the aspirations of Ukrainians for independence as tools in their geopolitical games, viewed this land solely as a resource.
Nevertheless, Ukrainians made a significant contribution to the victory over Nazism, demonstrating heroism, courage, and self-sacrifice on all fronts of the anti-Hitler coalition. Six million Ukrainians fought in the ranks of the Red Army, while hundreds of thousands participated in partisan movements — including the Ukrainian Insurgent Army — as well as in the armies of Poland, the United States, Canada, and France. Almost all industrial facilities in Ukraine were repurposed for the defense industry, and the country's territory became a center of major battles, resistance, and heroism.
However, the expulsion of the Nazis did not bring freedom to Ukraine. Instead, communist terror returned — marked by massacres carried out by the "men in black robes," the deportation of Crimean Tatars and other peoples from Crimea, the man-made famine of 1946–1947, the forced relocation of ethnic Ukrainians from Poland, renewed repression in Western Ukraine, and widespread Sovietization.
In total, Ukraine lost more than 8 million of its citizens, along with representatives of other peoples living on its territory. The global death toll of the war is estimated to range between 50 and 85 million.
The ambassador emphasized that no single country can claim sole credit for this Victory, as it was achieved through the joint efforts of dozens of countries and hundreds of peoples. He added that the memory of the war should not serve a cult of victory or revanchism: “Modern Russia distorting this history, portrayed itself as the ‘main hero’. However, this memory should teach us to value peace, to defend it, and to be courageous and principled in the struggle with enemy.
Unfortunately, after Nazism and Communism, the world is now confronted with a new aggressive ideology — ‘Rashism’. This ideology poses a threat not only to Ukraine's independence and sovereignty but also to international legal norms, global security, and democracy as a whole.
Today, Ukrainians are fighting with weapons not only to defend themselves but also to protect other countries and peoples from Russian aggression. This struggle presents an opportunity to build a more stable and just security system. The only way forward is to defeat the aggressor, restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and prevent further crimes by Russian imperialism.
Since 2022, Russia suffering thousands of casualties every day, without achieving any strategic goals, yet continues to use the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazism — including the military parade planned for May 9, 2025 — as a tool of propaganda. The aim is to mobilize new forces, attract allies, and reinforce the regime despite the ongoing economic crisis and widespread poverty affecting millions within the country.
“We call on the international community to honor the memory of the victims of World War II based on historical truth, and to prevent this historic day from being used as justification for new war crimes,” the diplomat emphasized.
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