The Final Forum of the International Volunteer Corps marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory opened at the National Centre RUSSIA

One and a half thousand volunteers from 89 regions of Russia and 35 countries gathered at the National Centre RUSSIA for the grand opening of the Final Forum of the International Volunteer Corps marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory. Throughout the year, they helped organise patriotic initiatives, held lessons of remembrance and courage, conducted historical quests, and cared for Heroes of the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War.

The opening ceremony began with a welcome address from the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.

"It is gratifying that your movement has united many energetic, talented, and caring people — both in Russia and abroad — and has earned public recognition. The International Volunteer Corps, established with your active participation, has made a significant contribution to the preparation and implementation of large-scale, meaningful events dedicated to the anniversary of the Great Victory. It has supported major patriotic, educational, and humanitarian projects aimed at preserving and affirming the historical truth about the Second World War. Your active civic stance, clearly demonstrated through your extensive educational work, deserves deep respect," the President’s message reads.

In the year marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, volunteers deepened their knowledge and explored the history of the nation of victors. The Russian Historical Society made a significant contribution to their educational efforts. In a video message, its Chairman, Sergei Naryshkin, addressed the forum participants and noted that the organisations share similar principles: "Today, as Russia is engaged in a difficult struggle for a worthy place in the world, facing a coalition of aggressive totalitarian-liberal regimes of the West, the importance of history is being realised more deeply and acutely. It is being written before our eyes, reflected in the destinies of millions of families, and uniting entire generations."

Historical memory is also being preserved abroad. The International Team of "Victory Volunteers" is represented in more than 60 countries. Compatriots and foreign participants received a welcome address from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov.

"It is gratifying that this truly nationwide project continues to develop, bringing together caring people in Russia and beyond. Your contribution to the preparation and organisation of the celebrations marking the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory cannot be overstated. We are deeply grateful for your care for veterans, for maintaining military memorials and burial sites, and for your tireless efforts to preserve historical memory," the message from Sergei Lavrov reads.

The partner of the nationwide movement "Victory Volunteers" is the United Russia party. Together they have carried out numerous initiatives to support veterans of the Great Patriotic War, such as "Mobile Assistance Brigades" and "Happy New Year, Veteran!". The movement also co-organises volunteer support for major events including "Victory Dictation" and the International Clean-Up Day.

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"Victory Volunteers are a community of responsible people with strong character. Since 2020, we have been jointly building a support system and establishing guardianship over participants and veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Today, every hero feels the genuine care of United Russia and the volunteers. Thank you for this joint effort. Your knowledge and experience form a powerful foundation for future shared projects. This forum is also special — it takes place in your anniversary year. Congratulations on the tenth anniversary of the movement 'Victory Volunteers'. You have grown into a strong, united team that defends historical truth not only in Russia but also far beyond its borders," said Vladimir Yakushev, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council and Secretary of the General Council of the United Russia party, in his video message.

The year also marked a milestone for Victory Volunteers — the movement celebrated its 10th anniversary. In many regions, employees of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation joined volunteers in their activities.

"Over the past ten years, many events have taken place both in our country and in the world, yet the goals and objectives of your movement remain unchanged — a selfless desire to do good, to help people in difficult life situations, to support our veterans, to organise international and nationwide patriotic campaigns, and to involve young people in volunteer work," emphasised the Chair of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, General of Justice of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin, in his address.

The activities of the International Volunteer Corps began in October 2024. Volunteer training centres were being prepared to open across all regions of Russia and in various countries, with the first of them opening its doors in the capital of Russia. In his message, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin noted that the forum would become a unique platform for the exchange of experience.

"Patriotic volunteerism has a great future. Your enthusiasm, determination, and the energy of goodness and creation greatly contribute to addressing such vital tasks as preserving historical memory, caring for the defenders of the Fatherland and their families, educating young people in the spirit of love for the Motherland, and ensuring the continuity of victorious traditions," the message from Sergei Sobyanin reads.

Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on the Development of Civil Society and Issues of Public and Religious Associations, Olga Zanko, also addressed the participants of the Final Forum. According to her, the International Volunteer Corps has brought together hundreds of thousands of dedicated volunteers throughout the country and abroad.

"More than 500,000 volunteers in Russia and beyond have helped organise the key events of the Year of the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory. These are people of different ages, professions, nationalities and faiths. We were supported by representatives of various non-profit and volunteer organisations. But all these diverse people are united by one mission — to defend the truth about the Great Victory and to preserve historical memory. For each of us, the Great Patriotic War is not just a page in a history textbook; it is a personal, family memory," emphasised Olga Zanko.

Volunteers of the International Volunteer Corps marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory paid particular attention to the patriotic education of youth communities, often represented by students. On behalf of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, participants were greeted by Deputy Minister Olga Petrova.

"The age range of participants in the volunteer movement is expanding — not only towards the older generation, but also towards schoolchildren, and even preschoolers in some places who want to help and pass on this part of our DNA, preserving the memory of generations. Of course, each of you is a part of history. Ten years may not seem a long time, but if we think about what has happened over these ten years and what stage of life our country has gone through, we can definitely say: these have been ten years of the movement’s tempering, a test of its unity and the strength of its community. And the fact that every year more and more volunteers proudly say: 'I am a Victory Volunteer' is always evident. Wherever you go, you can immediately tell: the Victory Volunteers are here," said Olga Petrova.

Following the tradition of the movement, at the opening of the Final Forum, participants received words of guidance from a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, Nikolai Konstantinovich Imchuk. The Hero fought on the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts, taking part in the liberation of Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Hungary and Austria. He celebrated Victory Day on 9 May 1945 in the Austrian city of Wiener Neustadt, near Vienna, at the age of 14. Nikolai Konstantinovich has been awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, the Medal "For the Capture of Budapest" and the Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War".

"It is wonderful that in Russia we have the 'Victory Volunteers'. This organisation bears a great historical responsibility in upholding patriotism and the prestige of our great Russia. What you are doing cannot be measured in words. I am a direct witness. As a participant of the Great Patriotic War, as a frontline soldier, I believe that you are an irreplaceable part of our society, carrying within you the historical memory of our Great Victory. And at the same time, you help us, the veterans," said Nikolai Konstantinovich in his address to the volunteers.

The opening ceremony also featured a performance of the song "Katyusha" in 40 foreign languages and a musical number by Honoured Artist of Russia Zara.

The Forum brought together representatives of the International Volunteer Corps marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory, activists of the nationwide movement "Victory Volunteers", as well as Russian-speaking and international youth associations from France, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Panama, Tajikistan, Abkhazia, and other countries, along with leaders and volunteers of non-profit organisations working in the fields of patriotic education and historical awareness.

The Forum’s programme includes strategic and educational sessions on the development of civic and patriotic volunteerism, exchange of regional and international practices, the award ceremony for the winners of the international prize "Ready for Victories", a review of the activities of the International Volunteer Corps marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory, meetings with Heroes, historians and mentors, as well as a cultural and excursion programme dedicated to the legacy of Victory and events celebrating the 10th anniversary of the "Victory Volunteers" movement.

The Forum is organised by the nationwide movement "Victory Volunteers" with the support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), the Committee for Public Relations and Youth Policy of the City of Moscow, the Rosmolodezh programme "More Than a Trip", the Presidential Grants Foundation, and other partner organisations.