On May 8, we honor the memory of all those who joined the struggle against the Nazi regime of Germany and contributed to its defeat.
Millions of Ukrainians fought against the aggressor in the ranks of various armies across the world. Combating the Nazi occupiers was a priority of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army even before its fighters took up arms against the Soviet occupiers as well.
As we remember the crimes of the Nazi regime and mark the victory over it, we must not forget the crimes of the Communist regime, which conspired with the Nazis to unleash World War II, yet was never properly dismantled or held to account.
Today, Ukraine stands against a regime that sees itself as the heir to the USSR and exploits a distorted memory of World War II. They say they can do it again — but all they are repeating is the same aggression against their neighbors that began in 1939. As such, Ukrainians are ready to fight the aggressor, whose fate will inevitably mirror that of the Nazi regime.