Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On May 3, 2025, Washington, D.C. witnessed its first Immortal Regiment rally in six years. This event, held just days before Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, was organized by Russian nationals and marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The march began at Lafayette Square, near the White House, and ended at the World War II Memorial. Participants carried portraits of relatives who fought in World War II, Soviet flags, and banners featuring the black-and-orange St. George’s ribbon- a symbol now closely linked to Russian military actions in Ukraine.
The Immortal Regiment started in 2012 in Russia as a grassroots initiative to honor WWII veterans. However, it has since been co-opted by the Kremlin and transformed into a state-directed event used to promote Russian military pride and reinforce government narratives.
By 2015, President Vladimir Putin was marching in Moscow, signaling the event’s full integration into Russia’s state ideology.
The rally in D.C. was not just a memorial event; it was seen by many, especially Ukrainian Americans and activists, as a geopolitical operation designed to inject pro-Russian narratives into Western societies and legitimize Moscow’s current military actions, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The use of Soviet symbols and the St. George’s ribbon was exceptionally provocative, as these have become associated with Russian militarism and occupation since 2014.
Ukrainian nationals and activists staged a counter-protest, carrying flags and posters with messages such as “Putin is wanted for genocide” and “Honor the dead, bring Russia to justice”.
Protesters highlighted the event’s political undertones, with one activist describing it as “the crazy reality” of seeing a Russian march in the heart of the U.S. capital, seemingly justifying war crimes.
Washington police blocked streets and provided security for the marchers. While organizers claimed to have received official permission, the Metropolitan Police Department did not confirm this publicly.
The Immortal Regiment abroad is often coordinated and funded by Kremlin-aligned organizations, such as Rossotrudnichestvo and the Russkiy Mir Foundation, under the guise of cultural outreach.
These events serve as tools for spreading Russian state narratives and undermining Western perspectives on history and current events. Victory Day remains a cornerstone of Putin’s nationalist narrative, used to glorify the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany and frame Russia as a heroic nation resisting Western aggression. Pro-Russian demonstrators staged an Immortal Regiment rally in Washington, D.C, on May 3 to mark 80 years since the end of World War II,
Russia has indeed repurposed the Great Patriotic War, the name given to the Soviet Union's struggle against Nazi Germany in World War II, as a tool for national unity and justification for its political actions. This includes framing current conflicts, like the war in Ukraine, as a continuation of the "holy war" against fascism. The Kremlin has effectively transformed the memory of the Great Victory into a sacred myth, often used to denigrate opponents and promote a narrative of Russian strength and rightful dominance.
0:00 Introduction & Event Overview
1:15 Arrival and Gathering at Lafayette Square
1:48 Dmitry Valuev, - Russian America for Democracy in Russia
3:10 March to the World War II Memorial
5:05 Russian and Ukrainian Voices
6:39 Interview with a guy with a Stalin Flag
7:20 The Role of the Church
9:00 Symbolism and Controversy
11:10 Counter-Protest and Security
13:05 Debates on History and Propaganda
15:30 Personal Stories and Reflections
17:00 Closing Thoughts
On May 3, 2025, Washington, D.C. witnessed its first Immortal Regiment rally in six years. This event, held just days before Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, was organized by Russian nationals and marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The march began at Lafayette Square, near the White House, and ended at the World War II Memorial. Participants carried portraits of relatives who fought in World War II, Soviet flags, and banners featuring the black-and-orange St. George’s ribbon- a symbol now closely linked to Russian military actions in Ukraine.
The Immortal Regiment started in 2012 in Russia as a grassroots initiative to honor WWII veterans. However, it has since been co-opted by the Kremlin and transformed into a state-directed event used to promote Russian military pride and reinforce government narratives.
By 2015, President Vladimir Putin was marching in Moscow, signaling the event’s full integration into Russia’s state ideology.
The rally in D.C. was not just a memorial event; it was seen by many, especially Ukrainian Americans and activists, as a geopolitical operation designed to inject pro-Russian narratives into Western societies and legitimize Moscow’s current military actions, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The use of Soviet symbols and the St. George’s ribbon was exceptionally provocative, as these have become associated with Russian militarism and occupation since 2014.
Ukrainian nationals and activists staged a counter-protest, carrying flags and posters with messages such as “Putin is wanted for genocide” and “Honor the dead, bring Russia to justice”.
Protesters highlighted the event’s political undertones, with one activist describing it as “the crazy reality” of seeing a Russian march in the heart of the U.S. capital, seemingly justifying war crimes.
Washington police blocked streets and provided security for the marchers. While organizers claimed to have received official permission, the Metropolitan Police Department did not confirm this publicly.
The Immortal Regiment abroad is often coordinated and funded by Kremlin-aligned organizations, such as Rossotrudnichestvo and the Russkiy Mir Foundation, under the guise of cultural outreach.
These events serve as tools for spreading Russian state narratives and undermining Western perspectives on history and current events. Victory Day remains a cornerstone of Putin’s nationalist narrative, used to glorify the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany and frame Russia as a heroic nation resisting Western aggression. Pro-Russian demonstrators staged an Immortal Regiment rally in Washington, D.C, on May 3 to mark 80 years since the end of World War II,
Russia has indeed repurposed the Great Patriotic War, the name given to the Soviet Union's struggle against Nazi Germany in World War II, as a tool for national unity and justification for its political actions. This includes framing current conflicts, like the war in Ukraine, as a continuation of the "holy war" against fascism. The Kremlin has effectively transformed the memory of the Great Victory into a sacred myth, often used to denigrate opponents and promote a narrative of Russian strength and rightful dominance.
0:00 Introduction & Event Overview
1:15 Arrival and Gathering at Lafayette Square
1:48 Dmitry Valuev, - Russian America for Democracy in Russia
3:10 March to the World War II Memorial
5:05 Russian and Ukrainian Voices
6:39 Interview with a guy with a Stalin Flag
7:20 The Role of the Church
9:00 Symbolism and Controversy
11:10 Counter-Protest and Security
13:05 Debates on History and Propaganda
15:30 Personal Stories and Reflections
17:00 Closing Thoughts
