World War 2 was the bloodiest and most brutal in human history. It involved 80% of the world’s population, and between 50 and 85 million people lost their lives.
A total of more than 110 million soldiers were involved in the armies of the opposing sides. Ukraine honours the memory of everyone who fought against Nazism, as well as other victims of the war. In contrast, the Kremlin leadership seeks to monopolise the victory over Nazi Germany, which is the purpose of the so-called parade planned for 9 May 2025 on Red Square in the Russian Federation.
The memory of the war has gradually transformed into a powerful quasi-religious cult. In modern Russia, the mythology of the “Great Patriotic War” continues to be the core of imperial identity. Kremlin propaganda actively promotes a distorted image of World War 2, and not only within its own country. It also tries to manipulate public opinion in Europe and around the world.
Today, the aggressor state uses the victory over Nazism and the myth of its “decisive role” in it as an indulgence for its invasion of Ukraine, where it allegedly fights against “neo-Nazism”. This is what I decided to discuss with you on this very important date. So, let’s talk about Ukraine during World War 2.
Within the Soviet Union, Ukrainian statehood was nominal. At the same time, Moscow could not afford to completely eliminate the limited political and cultural autonomy of Ukrainians. The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) had its own government, parliament, academy of sciences, Ukrainian-language press and education, theatres, and museums. All of this was not granted by the goodwill of the Soviet authorities, but was the product of our people’s struggle for their national rights.
Geostrategic role of Ukrainian territory
As he prepared for the great war, Stalin recognised the geostrategic role of Ukrainian territory as a springboard for the capture of Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. In the event of a potential enemy attack on the Ukrainian SSR, it was Ukraine that was to play the role of the most important theatre of military operations. Therefore, an extensive system of fortified areas and defensive lines was constructed on its territory, and a huge number of troops were stationed there.
In the first days of the German-Soviet war, 2.8 million residents of Ukraine were drafted into the Red Army. During the evacuation to remote areas of the USSR, 550 enterprises, property, and livestock of thousands of collective farms, state farms, and machine-tractor stations, as well as dozens of scientific and educational institutions and cultural centres, were relocated.
Nearly 3.5 million qualified workers and specialists, scientists, and representatives of the creative intelligentsia left. This enormous economic and intellectual potential was not created by an abstract Soviet Union, but by the efforts and resources of the Ukrainian people. After settling in new places, Ukrainian people and enterprises continued to supply the front with everything necessary.
The important role of Ukraine made it the main theatre of military operations not only of the Soviet-German front, but also among all fronts of World War 2. From 22 June 1941, to 28 October 1944, there was practically never a lull here. Of these 40 months, 35 were marked by active combat operations. Overall, half of all Soviet forces and between 56 and 76% of the Wehrmacht divisions were concentrated on Ukrainian soil, with 60.6% of Germany’s ground forces being defeated in Ukraine.
Specifically in Ukraine, large-scale operations took place in 1941, such as the largest tank battle in human history in the area of Lutsk-Rivne-Brody, as well as the Kyiv and Odesa defensive operations. Ukraine also played a strategic role in the following year, 1942. The defence of Sevastopol lasted 250 days. After the defeat of the Red Army near Kharkiv, the German general offensive towards the Volga and the Caucasus took place.
On Ukrainian lands, the largest offensive operations occurred in 1943 to 1944. By 1944 to 1945, many units and formations consisted of 50-70% Ukrainians. Ukraine’s contribution to the victory was measured not only by participation in combat actions, but also by the scale of losses.
The wreath-laying ceremony on the 8 of May 2025 at Freedom Park, Pretoria, South Africa. Pictured are representatives of diplomatic corps accredited in SA, representatives of Freedom Park and representatives of veteran organisations of SA. (Photo: Embassy of Ukraine)
Over 30 countries and veteran organisations of SA payed tribute to the fallen soldiers and victims of WW 2 during the wreath-laying ceremony on the 8 of May 2025 at Freedom Park, Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo: Embassy of Ukraine)
Forcibly deported
According to independent historians, military losses of the Soviet Armed Forces are estimated to be between 11 and 12 million, with approximately 2.5 million Ukrainians, or 21-22%. As a result of the fighting, 10 million people in Ukraine were left homeless. The occupiers forcibly deported 2.4 million individuals to work in the Reich. Overall, the material losses of the Ukrainian SSR accounted for 45% of the total losses within the Soviet Union.
However, the most horrifying thing was the human casualties. During the period from 1939 to 1945, direct losses amounted to 8-10 million people, while demographic losses reached 13.6 million. The Nazis killed 1.5 million Ukrainian Jews and 20,000 Roma. As of 1 June 1946, there were more than 500,000 registered disabled individuals in social security agencies, 70% of whom were aged between 20 and 40 years.
Their treatment, employment, and social adaptation became a serious problem, particularly regarding prosthetics. By the end of 1944, 125,000 orphans had been identified in Ukraine, 21,000 of whom were homeless. If in 1941 Ukraine’s population was 41.7 million, by 1945 it had decreased to only 27.4 million. It took Ukraine 25 years to recover from such demographic losses.
The Ukrainian SSR became one of the founding countries of the United Nations. Thus, the peoples of the world recognised the tremendous contribution of the Ukrainian people to the victory over Nazism.
Victory and Remembrance Day is a reminder that the escalation of global conflict was preceded by a secret conspiracy between National Socialist Germany and the Bolshevik USSR regarding the division/occupation of neighbouring European states, as well as the silent unwillingness of the most powerful global players to resist aggressors. Considering this, it is important to remember that the fear and indecisiveness of the international community have always encouraged aggressors to commit greater crimes.
In 2004, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 8 and 9 May as Days of Remembrance and Reconciliation. More than 10 years ago, Ukraine joined the tradition of commemorating the victory over Nazism in a European spirit — not as a celebration but as a tribute. In South Africa, on 8 May for seven consecutive years, initiated by the Embassy of Ukraine in South Africa, in cooperation with Freedom Park and with the participation of most foreign missions accredited in South Africa, we honour the memory of all who fought against Nazism.
This year, while we observe the aggressor country’s attempts to claim recognition of its exceptional role in the victory over Nazism, it is essential to remember that the victory was the result of the titanic efforts of dozens of states and hundreds of nations. It is equally unacceptable to attempt to hide behind the authority of the victor in World War 2 to pursue aggressive policies in the present time.
Representatives of diplomatic corps from Belgium, Japan, Germany and Ukraine during the wreath-laying ceremony on the 8 of May 2025 at Freedom Park, Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo: Embassy of Ukraine)
Ambassador of Ukraine to the RSA HE Liubov Abravitova addresses the audience during the ceremony on the 8 of May 2025 at Freedom Park, Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo: Embassy of Ukraine)
Destroyer of international relations
Today, the Russian authorities act as a destroyer of the system of international relations established by the victorious states in World War 2, reminding us of a terrible catastrophe and warning that complex international problems cannot be resolved through blackmail, ultimatums, armed aggression, or annexation.
These days, a brutal and unprovoked war of aggression is being waged against the Ukrainian people, who are one of the nations that defeated Nazism and paid a terrible price for peace and freedom in Europe. In the course of this aggression, Russian soldiers have committed hundreds of thousands of war crimes, and deported at least 20,000 Ukrainian children.
There have been executions of civilians, mass graves, rape, looting, detention of civilian hostages, torture and the execution of prisoners of war, the use of indiscriminate weapons, strikes on densely populated residential areas and energy and civilian infrastructure. The Russian army has committed and continues to commit atrocities in Ukraine on a scale that Europe has not seen since World War 2.
This is the army that will march on Red Square in Moscow on 9 May. These people are not the liberators of Europe, they are occupiers and war criminals. To march side by side with them is to share responsibility for the blood of murdered Ukrainian children, civilian and military, and does not honour the victory over Nazism. Russia is inviting foreign military personnel to participate in the 9 May parade in order to whitewash its war crimes and justify its aggression.
The participation of foreign military personnel in this event is unacceptable and will be regarded by Ukraine as an outrage against the memory of the victory over Nazism, the memory of millions of Ukrainian frontline soldiers who liberated our country and the whole of Europe from Nazism eight decades ago.
Neutrality
We call on all foreign countries to refrain from sending their military personnel to the 9 May parade in Moscow. This especially applies to countries that declare neutrality in relation to Russian aggression against Ukraine or consistently take a neutral position in international relations. The participation of the militaries of such countries in the joint parade would directly violate such declared neutrality, and would look like support for the aggressor state.
We call on all foreign states and international organisations to honour the victims of World War 2 and the collective victory over Nazism with dignity, which does not justify Russian aggression and atrocities against Ukrainians.
Ukraine expresses respect and gratitude to all fighters against Nazism, honouring the memory of the fallen soldiers and the victims of the bloodiest war in human history. DM