Press Release, 22.06.2025

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

On the 84th anniversary of the attack of the fascist Germany on the USSR, Yabloko honoured the memory of the victims of the terrible tragedy that affected the lives and destinies of hundreds of millions of people – participants in the events of the first half of the 20th century, as well as their descendants. The leaders and activists of the party lit candles at the monument to Moscow residents who raised to defend their city.

Grigory Yavlinsky, Chairman of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko party:

“84 years have passed. And again, 22 June is a day of remembrance for dozens of millions of people who gave their lives for us, for our children and our future. For our country. There is no greater responsibility than the responsibility to them for what is happening to our country now and what will happen to it. Remembering this is our unconditional civic duty and human obligation.”

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Nikolai Rybakov, Yabloko Chairman:

“The true memory of the war is the prevention of war. The memory of the dead is to prevent new deaths. Distorting the truth about the war, trying to make a colourful cartoon out of it is the path to new tragedies. Therefore, we must do everything possible to preserve the true, unvarnished memory of the tragedy of the war.”

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Maxim Kruglov, Deputy Chairman of the party and an Authorized Representative of the Moscow branch of Yabloko:

“We remember the most tragic day in the history of our country. We remember the millions of lives that were cut short for the sake of our future. We remember this tragedy and this feat. We think about today, when people continue to die. We all need peace. Unfortunately, we have not yet learned the lessons of history.”

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

The monument to the Zamoskvorechye Militia (civilians who raised to defend Moscow) was unveiled in memory of the 18,000 volunteers from the Kirovsky and Moskvoretsky districts of Moscow who stood up to defend the capital from superior German forces. According to different sources, between 120,000 and 400,000 people signed up to defend Moscow in the people’s militia, about 160,000 of them were accepted and defended their homeland alongside the Red Army soldiers. Most of the soldiers and commanders of the people’s militia divisions were killed or captured.