MOSCOW (Realist English). In a commemorative article marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu argued that the Soviet people’s wartime sacrifice remains a cornerstone of Russian national identity and plays a vital role in bolstering the country’s security amid contemporary challenges. The article was published on the website of Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
“No one and nothing can diminish the Soviet people’s contribution to Victory,” Shoigu wrote. He stated that modern Russia must defeat “the revival of Nazism” and ensure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated.
According to Shoigu, the Soviet Union’s victory was made possible by unity between state and society, patriotic education, a high capacity for national mobilization, and political leadership that successfully concentrated the country’s resources on its defense.
He stressed that these historical lessons — particularly in organization and spiritual mobilization — are critical today, as the “collective West wages hybrid warfare against Russia,” through sanctions, subversive actions, and information campaigns.
Shoigu emphasized that modern national security must account for a wide spectrum of threats — from military to cultural — including efforts to rewrite history. In this context, he pointed to the recent establishment of the National Center for Historical Memory and highlighted the importance of military-patriotic education:
“Children and young people must know who the real heroes are — those who lived and still live among them. Understanding this heritage creates a sense of belonging to the fate of the Fatherland.”
The article also draws a direct connection between the Great Patriotic War and the current special military operation in Ukraine. Shoigu noted that the victory over fascism once inspired a nationwide mobilization and a scientific and technological breakthrough — and continues to teach Russians to “be ready to fight for freedom.”
The year 2025 has been officially declared the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland in Russia. Authorities are emphasizing continuity between the heroism of Red Army soldiers in WWII and participants in the ongoing military campaign.
