The German-Soviet War, which in the USSR was called the Great Patriotic War, was part of World War II and lasted from June 22, 1941, to May 9, 1945 — a total of 1,418 days. Exactly the same length of time as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has lasted since February 24, 2022.

For the Armed Forces of Ukraine, this is a symbol that time has stopped working in favor of the aggressor. The myth of the “Great Patriotic War” as a source of legitimacy for the actions of the Russian army has shattered against this number. The fact remains that the Russian Federation has been waging a war of aggression longer than the USSR waged a defensive war against Nazi Germany and has failed to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, the Russian army is not an “invincible heir to victory”, but a force bogged down in a war of attrition without any significant result.

It is Ukraine that today is waging a true patriotic war — for its native land and a bright future — having in this time become a guarantor of security for the entire continent, a symbol of resilience and faith in Victory.