Ukrainian World Congress declares May 9 ‘Russian Shame Day’

May 8th, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day—the moment when the fighting in Europe against Nazi Germany ended. This victory was not only a triumph over a brutal dictatorship but also the foundation of a global order rooted in human rights, justice, and peace—a system that has underpinned stability and cooperation in Europe for decades.

However, each year on May 9, the Russian Federation distorts this history to promote a false narrative steeped in militarism and nationalism. What should be a day of solemn reflection has been hijacked by the Kremlin to justify its ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine. Through orchestrated events like the “Immortal Regiment” marches, the Russian state exploits the memory of World War II to mask its current atrocities, spread disinformation, and glorify totalitarianism.

Under Vladimir Putin, the Russian government has weaponized its past—rewriting history to glorify Stalin, downplay Soviet war crimes, and revive imperialist ideologies of domination. Russia has appropriated the victory over Nazism, which was secured by the collective efforts of millions, including Ukrainians, and twisted it to fuel its militaristic ambitions. The Russian Federation has turned history into a tool of propaganda, glorifying Soviet-era oppression and covering up the war crimes committed by its own forces.

“Russia has weaponized history to justify its crimes—glorifying Stalin, erasing Soviet atrocities, and fueling a new wave of imperialism. Nowhere is this more tragically clear than in Ukraine, where the horrors unfolding today echo the darkest chapters of the 20th century,” stated UWC President Paul Grod.

From Bucha to Mariupol, Izium to Donbas, Russian forces have committed atrocities that shock the conscience of humanity—massacres, torture, rape, forced deportations, and the systematic abduction of Ukrainian children. These are not isolated incidents; they are the deliberate actions of a regime that denies Ukrainians the very right to exist as a free and independent people.

On May 9, the Ukrainian World Congress urges the global community to see through the Kremlin’s propaganda and confront the truth: this is not a day of victory—it is a day of shame. It is a shameful reminder that the Russian Federation, steeped in the ideology of “Ruscism,” has become the very evil it once claimed to have defeated.

Call to Action:
We call upon the world’s democratic nations to:

• Recognize the crimes committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine as genocide;
• Designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism;
• Condemn the “Immortal Regiment” campaign for its role in glorifying Soviet oppression and legitimizing modern aggression;
• Establish a special International War Crimes Tribunal to investigate and prosecute all crimes committed by Russian leadership and its agents;
• Ban any events or commemorations that glorify Russia Victory Day and justify Russia’s bloody war on Ukraine;
• Urge all government, business, and civil society leaders not to participate in any Russia Victory Day events and instead declare May 9 as Russian Shame Day.

As long as even one Ukrainian remains under Russian occupation or one kidnapped Ukrainian child continues to be imprisoned in a Russian indoctrination camp, the mission of justice remains unfinished. May 9 must no longer be used to spread lies—it must become a day when the world unites to confront aggression, demand accountability, and defend the dignity of all free peoples.

Find more information and materials on the campaign’s page: russianshameday.org.