Victory Day 2009

On May 9, Ukraine celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany.

We lost 7 million men, women, and children in WW II, approximately one-third of the total casualties borne by the Soviet Union.

This number does not include the thousands of Ukrainian Americans and Ukrainian Canadians who fought in the European and Pacific theaters.

May the lives they lost and sacrificed never be forgotten. May the heroes who fought for their native land, through the cannon fodder reality of that war and into today’s poverty, never be forgotten.

For me, it’s always been a day of remembrance, a day of thanksgiving and — as I grew up and learned more history — a day of reconciliation.

On this warm sunny day, I took a walk to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Park of Glory, like I did last year. Then, passing through the Holodomor Memorial, I proceeded to the WW II Memorial.






WW II veterans descending into Arsenalna Station














It's their day. People greet them with flowers and thank them.








The Union of Left-Wing Forces


Soviet Navy







Entering the Communist sector



This day also serves as a forum for Communists, Stalinists and Russian imperialists.


“No Fascism in Ukraine!”




“Capitalism brought tragedy to Ukraine. Solution: reviving the socialist society. Down with capitalism!”
Good point but wrong solution.






Nash BTR vpered letit







Sovietman
He does have a point about Ukraine currently being a criminal state with no future. The sad thing is, people like him helped make it happen.





The Usual Suspects: Yushchenko, Bandera, Shukhevych






“Thanks to the USSR and the Red Army, Ukraine was liberated from the Nazi-Fascist invaders.”
Was it because of Stalin, or despite him, that we won?





















The All-Ukrainian Union of Soviet Soldiers










Thousands lie buried on the Dnipro River bed. They died liberating Kyiv from the Nazis in November 1943.




Left-bank Kyiv





“Glory to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics!”





























The Holodomor Memorial














Gate Church of the Trinity at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
















Descending into the WW II Memorial















“Their sacrifice will live forever. Their names are immortal”














Mother Motherland























Look who's here!












The Eternal Flame




Same guy








“Eternal glory to the heroes!”
Greetings from President Yushchenko