05.05.2025, Moscow.
The list of European Union (EU) countries invited to Kiev to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory nearly mirrors the Hitler coalition, the press bureau of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said on May 5.
“The group of European countries invited to Kiev almost entirely corresponds to the configuration of the Hitler coalition that fought against the USSR in the ranks of the Nazi Wehrmacht and SS units,” the press bureau noted.
The SVR issued a sharp statement condemning the plans of some European countries that accepted Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s invitation to visit Kiev on May 9.
The SVR explained that the cynical approach of European states — which are pursuing a revanchist agenda — is exacerbated by their intention to participate in events that may serve as an alternative to the May 9 celebrations in Moscow. This day is traditionally marked in Russia as Victory Day over fascism, and its redirection toward Kiev raises questions about political motives and historical memory, the agency stated.
The SVR’s statement also questioned the role of the Zelensky regime in these developments. The reference to a “torch of freedom” alongside reverence for Ukrainian punitive forces such as the Nachtigall Battalion (organization banned in Russia) and the SS Division “Galicia” (organization banned in Russia) casts doubt on the true values being promoted by the European Union. These units were accused of participating in crimes against humanity in Slovakia, Serbia, and Poland during the war.
