Minsk, May 10 Cities and towns across Belarus held solemn ceremonies, exhibitions and cultural events to mark the 81st anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.
On Saturday (local time), in the capital Minsk, thousands of residents, veterans, students and public officials gathered at Victory Square to lay flowers at the Monument to the Heroic Defenders of the Motherland and the Eternal Flame, honouring those who lost their lives in the fight against fascism.
Outside the capital, the Glory Hill memorial complex hosted an exhibition of authentic wartime artefacts, offering visitors a tangible connection to the struggles and sacrifices during the war, reports Xinhua news agency.
In Mogilev, a city in eastern Belarus, high school students participated in a "Victory Waltz" dance event, using body language to express reverence for fallen soldiers and celebrate the restoration of peace.
The city of Gomel marked the anniversary with a military parade on Lenin Square, paying tribute to the soldiers who fought for Belarus's liberation and freedom during World War II.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, in his Victory Day address, emphasised that May 9, 1945, remains a sacred date for every Belarusian.
He underscored Belarus' responsibility to safeguard global peace, warning against the resurgence of aggression and the dangers of historical amnesia. He called on all nations to choose dialogue over confrontation, development over destruction, and to preserve the legacy of victory for future generations.
Russia, too, marked the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in the Great Patriotic War. The slogan "No one is forgotten, nothing is forgotten" was displayed prominently throughout Moscow, underscoring the enduring significance of Victory Day in the national memory.
White, blue and red banners emblazoned with the word "Victory" lined the capital's avenues and squares, while commemorative decorations transformed the Hero City into a vast tribute to the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II.
On Saturday morning, a grand military parade was held on Moscow's iconic Red Square to honour the wartime victory.
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