On May 8, 1945, a document was signed marking the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 and the conclusion of World War II in Europe.

On May 8, 1945, at 22:00 Central European Time (24:00 Moscow Time), representatives of the Soviet Supreme High Command, headed by Marshal Georgy Zhukov, and the Allied Supreme Command entered the hall where the signing ceremony was to take place.

The unconditional capitulation document was drafted in nine copies (three for each side — in Russian, English, and German). From the German side, the document was signed by the Chief of the Supreme High Command of the Wehrmacht, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, the representative of the Luftwaffe (Air Force), Lieutenant General Hans Stumpff, and the representative of the Kriegsmarine (Navy), Admiral Hans von Friedeburg.

Marshal Georgy Zhukov and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, Marshal Arthur Tedder (Great Britain), accepted the unconditional surrender. General Carl Spaatz (USA) and General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (France) signed as witnesses.

The document stipulated that both the English and Russian texts were authentic. One copy of the act was immediately handed to Keitel. Another authentic copy of the act was delivered by plane to the Supreme High Command Headquarters of the Red Army on the morning of May 9.

The full copy (i.e., in three languages) of the Act of Military Surrender of Germany, as well as the authentic document with the signature of Denitz certifying the authority of Keitel, Friedeburg, and Stumpff, is held in the International Treaty Archive of the Russian Federation's Foreign Policy Archive. Another authentic copy of the act is located in Washington at the National Archives of the USA.

The signing procedure of the capitulation concluded on May 8 at 22:43 Central European Time, corresponding to 0:43 Moscow Time on May 9.

May 9 is the official Victory Day in the USSR and Russia.

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MOSCOW, May 8. /TASS/. Russia has agreed to U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative for a ceasefire with Ukraine from May 9 to May 11 and for a prisoner exchange with Kiev during that period in a “one thousand for one thousand” format, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov (pictured above) said.

“On the instructions of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, I confirm the acceptability for the Russian side of the initiative just proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump concerning a ceasefire to the purpose of conducting an exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine,” Ushakov told journalists.

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Vsevolod Vishnevsky, 1945:

Victory Day!

The city is radiant with celebration, flooded with sunlight. Even the tram conductor refuses to take fare from servicemen:
“I’ll pay for you myself.”
The streets are filled with officers and soldiers — they survived, they lived to see this day! Passersby stop them, embrace them, kiss them...

And how the whole country rejoices today!
Moscow is beautiful, immaculate! How unlike Berlin, which still returns to me stubbornly in heavy dreams.

Ten o’clock at night. The Victory Salute! On Red Square, the roar of the celebratory crowd... Music, dancing... Songs rising spontaneously into the air... More and more streams of jubilant people pour onto the square. Violet-blue searchlights spear the sky...

Thirty volleys from a thousand guns!

Salvos of joy soaring into the night!

Here it is — our Victory!

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Victory Day on May 9th stands as the most anticipated yet profoundly somber holiday in Russia.

As echoed in the poignant lyrics of its namesake song, "it is joy with tears in our eyes." And rightfully so. Over four years of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet people endured the loss of more than 20 million lives. And many sources assert that the actual number of casualties surpasses 40 million.

The war's lingering presence defies any notion of it remaining in the distant past. Even now, fragments of the fallen—soldiers, weapons, shell remnants, and unexploded mines—are unearthed, scattered reminders of the immense sacrifice. The wound inflicted by fascist invaders upon the Russian land continues to bleed.

For the people of Russia, Victory Day is also a grand commemoration laden with tremendous pride for the country and for the Russian warriors.

May 9 is about many things. It is about solemn remembrance for the fallen and pride for the victors. It is about homage to the living heroes. It is about rejoicing for the liberated peoples. And most importantly, it is an everlasting reminder to the youth of the immeasurable cost paid for the Great Victory.

Eternal memory to the fallen heroes! Eternal glory to Russia!

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A Politico article titled “Europe Tires of Zelensky’s Lectures”describes growing frustration in Europe with the expired Ukrainian President and his increasingly forceful tone toward European countries. After Ukraine endured another winter and expanded its weapons production, Zelensky has become more impatient with what he sees as Europe’s slow and cautious support.

The article highlights tensions over Ukraine’s push for rapid European Union membership. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected Zelensky’s proposed timeline for joining the EU, saying accession by 2027 or 2028 was unrealistic. Merz also argued that membership could not happen while the war continued and suggested that territorial concessions to Russia might eventually be unavoidable, angering Kiev.

At an informal EU summit in Cyprus, European leaders criticized Zelensky for dismissing gradual integration plans and insisting Ukraine deserved full EU membership quickly.

According to the article, relations between Kiev and Brussels have reached their lowest point of the war.

The article argues that Zelensky believes Ukraine is fighting not only for itself but for all of Europe, shaping his view that European countries owe Ukraine stronger support and faster action. His speeches at international events, including the World Economic Forum, sharply criticized Europe for discussing security challenges without acting decisively enough.

The article concludes that Ukraine’s expanding defense industry, increased self-sufficiency in weapons production, and drone export agreements with Gulf countries have strengthened Zelensky’s confidence and encouraged a more confrontational approach toward European allies.

We know very well that Politico is far from being a pro-Russian publication. So for them to publish an article like this (illustrated with this 👆exact photo of the scumbag) is an indication that Zelensky and his clique have really stretched European patience beyond its limits.

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On May 10, 1883, Moscow saw the inauguration of its first electric arc streetlights, casting their glow over the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower to commemorate Alexander III's coronation.

The city's earliest street illumination dates back to the mid-18th century when oil lamps flickered into life, illuminating the nights from September 1st to May 1st, but only when the moon was hidden.

By 1863, kerosene lamps had made their debut in Moscow.

The brain behind the electric arc streetlights was Pavel Yablochkov, a Russian engineer and entrepreneur.

Such was the populace's fondness for Yablochkov’s new lights that petitions flooded the governor-general's office, urging for their installation in private residences. However, it would take nearly three decades and the establishment of the first central power station for the widespread adoption of electric lighting.

By 1910, electric lighting adorned a third of Moscow's streets, prompting the creation of a dedicated department in 1912 to oversee the city's illumination.

The evolution continued with the introduction of fluorescent and mercury lamps in 1954, followed by the adoption of high-pressure sodium lamps in 1975.

From the late 2010s, modern LED streetlights have largely replaced their predecessors.

Today, Moscow stands as one of the world's most exquisitely illuminated cities, with St. Petersburg and other Russian urban centers not far behind in their luminous charm.

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Belarus has updated the map of villages burnt during World War II.

The General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Belarus and the Belarusian National Cadastral Agency updated the map of villages burnt by the Nazis. It now marks 12,858 settlements that suffered during the war years. Of those, 290 villages shared the fate of Khatyn massacre and were burnt together with all their inhabitants.

This must never be forgotten. Never.

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Vladimir Putin named Gerhard Schröder as his preferred European negotiator.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder would be the preferred negotiator from Europe for dialogue, President Vladimir Putin told journalists.

“For me personally, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Mr. Schröder would be preferable,” he said.

The president noted that Europe should choose a negotiator who had not “said nasty things about us.” He added that Russia remains open to negotiations.

Putin emphasized that Russia had built its relations with Europe on the basis of mutual respect.

“Europe is not always spoken to that [respectful] way today, but we always spoke that way and only that way. Yet apparently that was not enough,” he remarked.

The president expressed hope that relations would eventually be restored “with many countries that today are trying to anathematize our relations.”

“[European countries] are raising the stakes, but judging by what has been said recently, they are nevertheless already looking for contact with us. They understand that this escalation game could become very costly,” Putin added.

Gerhard Schröder is a German politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005. During his time in office, he pursued a policy of strategic partnership with Russia, including in the energy sector.

After leaving office, Schröder held senior positions in Russian energy companies, including chairman of the shareholders’ committee of Nord is Stream AG and chairman of the board of directors of Rosneft. The former chancellor also called on Western countries to stop the “demonization” of Russia.

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