A group of Russians in Washington, D.C. is reviving the so-called Immortal Regiment march – a Kremlin-backed propaganda event designed to promote the narrative that the Soviet Union almost single-handedly defeated Nazi Germany in World War II, Ukrinform reports.
The march, absent in the U.S. since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is now scheduled for May 3 and will mark what the organizers call the 80th anniversary of the end of the “Great Patriotic War” – the term used in Russia to reframe WWII around the Soviet experience, often sidelining the contribution of other Allied powers.
The initiative is being promoted in Russian-speaking communities throughout the U.S. via leaflets and online outreach. The event will begin in Lafayette Square, directly across from the White House, before proceeding to the World War II Memorial.
According to organizers, it will feature Soviet anthems, Communist-era symbolism, and the distribution of St. George’s ribbons – now globally associated with Russian military aggression.
The organizers claim they have secured official permission for the event.
Critics say the event aims to monopolize the memory of WWII in Europe, pushing a revisionist history that elevates Soviet contributions while erasing or minimizing the roles played by other nations.
The presence of such symbolism in the heart of the U.S. capital is viewed by many as a provocation, especially amid ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian organization Svitanok.NYC says similar marches may also take place in New York, Chicago, and Alexandria.
The group is urging Ukrainian organizations across the U.S. to unite and counter this propaganda.
“We need an immediate public response from the Ukrainian community in the U.S.!” Svitanok.NYC wrote.
“This year, Russians are trying to raise their heads right in the U.S. capital. We are announcing a counter-protest and calling on all concerned Ukrainians and Ukrainian organisations to join us in preventing the enemy from poisoning Washington with its propaganda,” the statement reads.
The organization is also urging Ukrainians in other cities to “closely monitor the information space for signs of similar propaganda events – and organise counter-protests if needed.”
“We’ll coordinate with police, avoid direct conflict, but we must show up and respond. We won’t let the enemy rise again. Glory to Ukraine!”
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