OUAGADOUGOU – The Russian Embassy in Burkina Faso held a ceremony on Saturday, May 11, 2024, to mark the 79th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. The event featured a series of activities within the embassy grounds, commemorating the historic moment.

According to Burkina Information Agency, First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Burkina, the ceremony was not only a reflection of past sacrifices but also an assertion of Russia’s crucial role in the defeat of Nazi Germany. He emphasized that the Great Patriotic War claimed over 26 million Soviet lives and left an indelible scar on nearly every Soviet family. “Each year, we organize an event to remember our significant victory,” stated Burkina.

The event also honored the millions of Jewish civilians killed during the conflict. Further, it served as a platform for various speakers to reaffirm historical facts about the war and Russia’s pivotal role in the Allies’ victory.

Allasane Savadogo, president of the Russian-Burkina Friendship (ABR) civil society movement, highlighted the contributions of Africans to the Allied victory, revealing that about thirty thousand Burkinabè fought in the war. “It is a source of pride to recognize that our ancestors were part of this monumental victory,” Savadogo remarked.

The ceremony concluded with a replay of the Armed Forces parade from May 9, 2024, commemorating the victory. Russian expatriates in Burkina recited poems in tribute to the Soviet heroes of 1945, and members of the Russian-Burkinabe African Initiative were present, reinforcing the historical ties between the two nations.

Every May 9, Russian diplomatic missions worldwide hold events to remember the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.