“The World Slept Through the Rebirth of Nazism”: Zelenskyy’s Day of Victory over Nazism Address

“The world slept through the rebirth of Nazism at 5 a.m. on February 24, 2022. And today, everyone who remembers World War II and has survived to this day feels a sense of déjà vu.”

In his address, Zelenskyy underscored the legacy of millions of Ukrainians who fought against Nazism during the Second World War. Today, the President observed, Ukrainians are once again engaged in a battle against a resurgence of evil. The Russian full-scale invasion, which began on February 24, 2022, has brought devastation to Ukraine, mirroring the brutalities of the past.

“Eighty years ago, millions of Ukrainians fought to defeat Nazism forever. But today, Ukrainians are once again resisting the reborn evil that has come again and wants to destroy us again. An army of humans who kill, torture, and wipe peaceful towns and villages off the face of the Earth. An evil, whose name is Russian fascism. It is abbreviated as RF,” Ukrainian President stated.

During the occupation of Yahidne in March 2022, Russian forces confined all 367 residents, including children, to a cramped school basement for nearly a month. The hostages endured horrific unsanitary conditions, with no food, water, and medical care. Eleven people died during the occupation due to inhumane conditions, and another 17 were shot by Russian soldiers. Zelenskyy reminded the world of this crime to illustrate the human cost of the Russian war against Ukraine and the urgent need for global recognition and action.

“Anyone in the world can understand what Putin's Russia is like by imagining themselves here, in this basement, among these people. Without light, food, water, medicine, air, in a room where there was less than a meter per person. They slept sitting up. They went outside only once. They ate 200 grams of soup per day. Men were stripped naked in the cold to find Ukrainian tattoos,” the Head of State emphasized.

The President stressed the importance of global unity in the face of this new threat, drawing parallels to the coalition that opposed Hitler during the Second World War. Zelenskyy emphasized that the world must unite against Russian fascism to prevent it from spreading across Europe and beyond.

“Yahidne that survived the hell of the Russian Federation is just one example. One village, but it reflects the whole essence of Putin's vision of the world,” Zelenskyy said.

Reflecting on the changes since 2023, the President noted that Ukraine now commemorates the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism on May 8, aligning with the observance of this date in Western Europe. This shift underscores Ukraine's determination to confront the threat of a revived Nazism, which he argues is being perpetrated by Russia under a new guise.

Zelenskyy concluded his address by urging the international community to take decisive action against Moscow, echoing the resolve of the past to stop the spread of evil. The world's commitment to the phrase "Never again" must be reaffirmed through tangible action, the President said, to ensure that history does not repeat itself.

“And, as in 1945, only a united free world—united in the Anti-Putin Coalition—can stop the Moscow Nazis through action rather than words. Such a world can keep the new evil from spreading across the entire European continent, and eventually the entire world. Such a world is capable of demonstrating its commitment to the words "Never again!" so that they become relevant again.”