By Russian House

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--Every year on June 22, Russia celebrates the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow – the memorable date of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

In 1941, on this day, German troops crossed the border of the USSR and attacked the Soviet armed forces along its entire length, German aircraft bombed Kiev, Minsk, Riga, Sevastopol and other cities. The war lasted 1,418 days. 

 
The total irretrievable losses of the USSR amounted to about 27 million people, of which 18 million were civilians, and about 8.7 million were Armed Forces. 4 million Soviet citizens were killed and tortured in concentration camps, more than 2 million of the 4.5 million Soviet servicemen died in captivity.

On June 22, national flags are lowered on the territory of Russia. All cultural institutions, television channels and radio stations are advised not to include entertainment programs, as well as advertising in the program. 
 
The country's leaders lay funeral wreaths at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow. Meetings with veterans and other events dedicated to the memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War are held in the regions. Minutes of silence are held in many cities.

Since 2009, the annual All-Russian action "Candle of Memory '' has been held. It begins on June 21 in the Elokhovsky Cathedral in Moscow with the lighting of a candle, which is then delivered to Poklonnaya Gora, to the Hall of Memory and Sorrow of the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War. From this candle, many others are lit, which are transferred to the places of military graves and memorial complexes throughout the country.

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the memory of the Great Patriotic War gives strength to "serve the country, moral precepts", "on the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow, we turn to one of the most bitter, dramatic pages of our history: on June 22, 1941, the Great Patriotic War began… This war "became a cruel, huge tragedy, claimed millions of lives, left destruction and irreparable pain of losses, deep unhealed wounds." 
 
"The trials of the wartime showed the incredible strength and steadfastness of our people, unfading examples of bravery, true patriotism and devotion to the instructions of our ancestors to protect our native land," Russian President Vladimir Putin is confident.

These days, the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin find absolute support in the multinational and multi-confessional society of the country. As Sheikh-ul-Islam, Supreme Mufti, Chairman of the Spiritual Enlightenment of Muslims of Russia Talgat Safa Tajuddin, noted in his recent address: 
 
"Paying tribute to the bright memory of the unprecedented feat of our fathers and grandfathers, who won a crushing victory over German fascism in a tough battle, we, Russians, a united people of a multinational, multi-confessional great power, sacredly honor the world and cherish the sacred gift of the one God – by the sovereignty and independence of his Homeland.

For those who have not learned the lessons of the Second World War, our country was forced to conduct a special military operation to protect Donbass and eradicate the threat of fascism from Ukraine, nurtured on new Nazi-revanchist aspirations that openly threaten the sovereignty and security of our country.

This envious tradition of the West in relation to our one great country is repeated almost every century. How much grief, blood and tears have been shed on Earth.

We have one and one Homeland, and everyone on the planet has its own! We have no other on Earth, but there is an eternity before His face! For centuries, the fate of the Almighty has united us – 193 large and small peoples of Russia on the land of our Motherland. And the fraternal peoples of the Commonwealth of Independent States are not strangers to us! 
 
For centuries, side by side, being the closest neighbors and compatriots of a single power, jointly sharing its joys and sorrows, protecting us from foreign invasions, our ancestors have preserved our united Homeland, the entire Eurasian space and bequeathed us to preserve peace and harmony. And no dajjal-antichrist, inshe-Allah, will be able to destroy this Great Commonwealth of States Independent of the Antichrist!

Fully supporting the tireless efforts and activities of our state and President Vladimir Putin in protecting world peace, we pray to the All–merciful Allah for peace and harmony, unity and prosperity on the land of our great, God-preserved Motherland - Russia, throughout the Eurasian space and throughout the world, for peace and goodness of this and Eternal peace".

Every year commemorative events are held at the Russian House in Kuala Lumpur, where flowers are laid at the monument dedicated to those who died during the Great Patriotic War, candles of remembrance are lit, the memory of relatives who participated in the war is honored.