22 June — Day of Remembrance and Sorrow

Exactly 85 years ago, at four o'clock in the morning, the life of our country was divided into a "before" and an "after". A war that would last 1,418 days and nights began. Today, we remember all those who fought on the front lines, worked tirelessly on the home front, endured occupation, siege and hardship — those who gave their lives for the freedom of their Motherland, and those who rebuilt the country after Victory.

On the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow — the anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War — a nationwide minute of silence is observed across Russia at 12:15 p.m. Transport comes to a halt and television broadcasts are interrupted. People bow their heads in memory of the millions who perished in the bloodiest conflict of the twentieth century.

Eighty-five years separate us from that fateful morning, yet its memory endures. One of the key places where this memory is not only preserved but passed on to new generations is the National Centre RUSSIA. Here, the truth about the country's history finds its voice through thematic expositions and unique artefacts, educational programmes and large-scale forums, lectures devoted to the pivotal events of the Great Patriotic War, meetings with veterans, and numerous initiatives that connect the past with the present. Here, archival documents are carefully preserved, while young people learn about the heroism and unity of the multinational people who refused to surrender to Nazism and brought Victory to the world.

One of the most striking examples of this work is the nationwide campaign named "Memory Wall". From 1 to 10 May, everyone had the opportunity to place a portrait of their Hero on a special memorial display — whether a participant in the Great Patriotic War, a home-front worker, a concentration camp prisoner or a child of war. The series of memorial wall openings in Russia's regions and in more than 20 countries around the world began precisely at the National Centre RUSSIA, and every photograph became part of our shared history. Older generations shared their memories, while children discovered the stories of their great-grandparents' courage for the first time and proudly spoke about their family's heroes.

The systematic work of preserving historical memory and honouring the heroes of the past forms an essential part of the mission of the National Centre RUSSIA. Memory is not merely knowledge of dates; it is a responsibility to uphold the truth that touches every family and serves as a lesson for future generations. Here, we do not simply recall the tragic chapters of our nation's history — we seek to understand them deeply, so that they may never be repeated.

On this day, we bow our heads before all those who never returned from the war and offer our heartfelt gratitude to those who gave us a future.