‘Immortal regiment’ as a weapon: Time to stop Russia’s march of shame

Volodymyr Kogutyak, UWC Vice President for Western Europe and Association of Ukrainians in France (AUF) Vice President, and Chair of the UWC Advocacy Committee, explains how the Kremlin weaponizes historical memory as a tool of hybrid warfare – and outlines strategic steps Ukrainian communities can take to counter Russian influence.

Today, in 2026, as the world prepares to mark the anniversary of the victory over Nazism, we must remain highly vigilant. In the days leading up to and on May 9, the Russian Federation is preparing its main propaganda provocation abroad – the so-called “Immortal Regiment.” After a forced pause due to international isolation, the Kremlin last year once again sent its columns into the streets of Rome, Athens, Toronto, and New York.

We must clearly state to the world: behind the portraits of fallen relatives is not grief, but the aggressor’s “soft power.” The purpose of these events is to legitimize modern Russian fascism and create the illusion of widespread support for Vladimir Putin’s policies in the heart of the democratic world.

#RussianShameDay: Our response to the aggressor’s propaganda

The UWC is mobilizing efforts as part of its multi-year campaign – #RussianShameDay. We are shifting the paradigm: for Russia, May 9 is not Victory Day, but a Day of Russian Shame. It is the day when a country that for decades monopolized the victory over fascism has itself become one of the leading fascist forces of the 21st century.

Learn more about the campaign and how to join via the following link.

Ukrainian communities must act proactively, turning Russia’s “victory” rhetoric into a toxic liability that no responsible government would want to associate with.

Key areas of pressure:

• Exposing state control: We must inform municipalities and security services in host countries that the “Immortal Regiment” has not been a grassroots initiative since 2015. Today, it is an operation funded and coordinated by structures such as Rosmolodezh, aimed at gathering intelligence on public sentiment and building influence networks under the guise of “compatriots.”
• #RussianShameDay is not just symbolic – it is a systematic effort to protect Europe’s security space. We call for these marches to be recognized as instruments of hybrid aggression.
• Banning the St. George ribbon: This symbol has evolved from a military decoration into a “mark of a killer.” In 2026, its appearance on the streets of European cities should be treated as support for terrorism and public endorsement of genocide in Bucha, Mariupol, and other Ukrainian cities.

Practical tools for communities

We have prepared a clear action plan to help counter hostile marches on May 9:

• Legal route: File requests with city authorities demanding that permits for such marches be denied. Emphasize the security risk: these events provoke conflict and can be used by Russian intelligence services to destabilize communities.
• Visual deconstruction: Highlight the use of “cloned” portraits. Russian propaganda mass-produces posters with fabricated faces through dedicated websites. Present this to local media as evidence of manipulation and the artificial nature of the so-called “grassroots movement.”
• Draw clear parallels: Prepare materials comparing Nazi crimes of the 1940s with crimes committed by Russian forces today – deportation of children, filtration camps, and mass executions. Russia is repeating what it claims to condemn.
• Work in the digital space: Support #RussianShameDay on social media. Share testimonies of victims of Russian aggression precisely on the days when the Kremlin promotes its victory myth.

Why this is a national security matter

The return of the “Immortal Regiment” is not just a march – it is an attempt by Russia to rewrite history and justify its current war. By promoting the narrative of “fighting Nazism,” the Kremlin is laying the groundwork for further aggression against Europe, labeling anyone who resists its imperial ambitions as “Nazis.”

Participation in these events today amounts to direct support for a state sponsor of terrorism. We demand justice: recognition of Russia’s actions as genocide and the establishment of an international tribunal.

Honoring the true memory of the victims of World War II means protecting the world from those who now use that memory as fuel for their tanks. Victory over Nazism was a shared achievement of many nations, and Ukraine paid one of the highest prices for it. We will not allow the aggressor to steal our history – or use it to justify new killings.