Veterans from across the country attended the festive concert at the National Centre RUSSIA

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The grand festive concert "Our Victory — For All Time!" was held at the National Centre RUSSIA in honour of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. Among the guests were veterans of the Great Patriotic War, including two who had travelled from abroad and celebrated their 100th anniversaries. Visitors to the National Centre RUSSIA heard familiar wartime songs from childhood, works by contemporary classical composers, as well as new pieces created specially for the anniversary concert. The event was a tribute to the heroes of wartime, as emphasised by Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.

"This concert is a tribute of remembrance and gratitude. We cannot allow anyone to rewrite our history, to forget the feat of the Soviet people, to forget the price that was paid for Victory. Evenings like this one at the National Centre RUSSIA are not just about music and lights — they are living memory, emotions you feel with your heart. Thank you to our veterans — for your courage, for your immortal feat, for the Great Victory!" said Anastasia Zvyagina.

Veteran of the Great Patriotic War from Armenia Rozalia Abgaryan, who turned 101 last year, congratulated the guests of the National Centre RUSSIA on the upcoming Victory Day. She travelled the road from Voroshilovgrad to Prague and celebrated the long-awaited Victory Day in Czechoslovakia. It was she who, via radio communication on May 9, delivered the news that Prague had been liberated.

"Dear comrades! I congratulate you on the national holiday of May 9 — the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. I also congratulate you on the opening of the new National Centre RUSSIA and wish you good work, health, happiness and all the best! We, the veterans, are against war. We want the skies above your heads to always be bright and clear. That you may always do what your heart desires. You are our future. And we will be waiting to see how you will build that future. That is how we shall live in the next century," emphasised Rozalia Abgaryan.

The concert programme opened with the composition "Eternal Flame." One of the first songs to follow was "Sacred War," performed by the Alexandrov Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army. The audience welcomed this piece with a standing ovation. The concert continued with a heartfelt performance by the Pyatnitsky State Academic Russian Folk Choir and rap artist ST (Alexander Stepanov), who performed the song "Give Him Strength." Igor Timashev, a labour veteran and honoured veteran of the State Research Institute of Aviation Systems, and Georgy Syzrantsev, a veteran of the Special Military Operation, recited poems for the audience. Together with the Alexandrov Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army, Olga Kormukhina, Alexei Petrukhin, Timur Vedernikov, and other performers, veterans sang the song "We Need One Victory."

Artists Alexander Panayotov and Polina Gagarina also took part in the large festive concert. During the performance of the song "Cranes," many visitors of the National Centre RUSSIA could not hold back tears. The piece was performed by the Alexandrov Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army, with soloists People's Artist of Russia Valery Gavva (the ensemble’s lead soloist) and Zaur Baragunov (participant of "The Voice. Kids").

A veteran of the Afghan war, Vitaly Zabornikov, shared his impressions of the concert.

"The concert was wonderful! The performers were excellent, and all the songs are relevant to our time. Victory is ours! This is my first time at the National Centre RUSSIA, and I really liked it here. I thank our President for launching the opening of this National Centre, which unites our people. May this centre work for the benefit of our Russian people," said Vitaly Zabornikov.

The programme moved guests to tears, noted Leningrad Blockade survivor Lyudmila Obukhova.

"I really enjoyed the concert, and I immediately remembered my father and mother. Because everything that was sung and said reminded me of my loved ones. It brought me to tears. I am very grateful that I was able to attend this concert! I wish everyone health, well-being, and I congratulate you on Victory Day!" said Lyudmila Obukhova.

One of the guests at the concert "Our Victory – For All Time!" was David Browse, a participant in the "Immortal Regiment" commemorative event and a visitor from the United Kingdom. He attended the concert at the National Centre RUSSIA wearing a Soviet soldier's uniform.

"I feel very good in Moscow. There is a wonderful and joyful atmosphere here on Victory Day. The concert was magnificent, I really enjoyed watching it. I wear the uniform of Soviet soldiers both in the United Kingdom and in Russia. I believe it is a great honour to wear this uniform," said David Browse.

The festive programme at the National Centre RUSSIA will continue on May 9. On Victory Day, the National Centre RUSSIA will host the event "Vehicles for the Front." All details can be found on the website in the "Events" section.