At an awards ceremony of USSR state awards for veterans, the President said that the memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War is sacred, that it continues to nourish the spirit of generations born after the war, and gives special meaning to our modern peaceful life.
We will preserve the memory and truth of the Great Patriotic War from any attempts at distortion, and any attempts to justify the genocide, inhumanity and barbarism of the criminals.
Vladimir Putin thanked veterans for their selflessness and fearlessness shown during the war. He stressed that it was these qualities which helped to uphold Russia’s honour, and save Europe and the world from Nazi enslavement.
See also
Veterans awarded state awards of the USSR
January 9, 2005