A tragic date that must not be forgotten: how June 22, 1941, changed the world forever

Every year on June 22, Russia celebrates the Day of Remembrance and Mourning, the date associated with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. On this day, funeral ceremonies, commemorative actions and flower laying at the memorials of the victims are held throughout the country. How the Day of Remembrance and Mourning appeared and what traditions are associated with it — in the material of Izvestia.

What does the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow mean?

The Day of Remembrance and Mourning is one of the most significant memorable dates in Russia, dedicated to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. On this day, millions of Soviet citizens who died at the front and in the rear, were tortured in concentration camps and became victims of the German occupiers are remembered. The date symbolizes not only the tragic beginning of the war, but also national grief for all those whose lives were destroyed by the events of 1941-1945.

On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union without declaring war. In the early morning, German troops crossed the state border of the USSR, and aircraft began attacking military installations, railway junctions and cities. A few hours later, Vyacheslav Molotov, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR, spoke on the radio, announcing the outbreak of war, which lasted 1,418 days.

On what date is the Day of Remembrance and Mourning celebrated in 2026

In 2026, the Day of Remembrance and Mourning will traditionally be celebrated on June 22. The date is fixed and does not change, as it is directly related to the day of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.

In 2026, June 22 falls on a Monday. Despite the fact that Memorial and Mourning Day is not a day off, official commemorative events, flower-laying ceremonies and mourning actions are held in Russia and several countries of the former Soviet Union.

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The history of the memorable date

The Day of Remembrance and Mourning received its official status after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the USSR, June 22 remained for many years the day of remembrance of the beginning of the war, but there was no separate state commemorative date.

On June 8, 1996, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree "On the Day of Remembrance and Mourning," according to which June 22 was declared the Day of Remembrance and Mourning — the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War. Later, the date was fixed in the federal law "On Days of Military Glory and Memorable Dates of Russia."

The appearance of the official memorial date was an important step in preserving the historical memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War and its victims. According to various estimates, the Soviet Union lost about 27 million people in 1941-1945. Among the dead were both military personnel and civilians.

A special place in the history of June 22 is occupied by the memory of the first hours of the war. The garrisons of the border regions, including the defenders of the Brest Fortress, were among the first to receive the blow. Despite the suddenness of the attack and the superiority of enemy forces, many Soviet units continued to resist in the encirclement for several weeks.

Over time, the Day of Remembrance and Mourning has become not only the date of official mourning events, but also a symbol of national unity in the face of historical trials. On this day, thematic exhibitions, memory lessons and meetings with war veterans and children are held in educational institutions, museums and cultural centers.

What traditions are observed on the Day of Remembrance and Mourning

The main tradition of the Day of Remembrance and Mourning remains the laying of flowers and wreaths at memorials and military graves. Representatives of government authorities, public organizations, military personnel, schoolchildren and residents of cities take part in commemorative actions. Events are held at memorials, mass graves, the Eternal Flame and monuments to the defenders of the Fatherland. One of the central venues for ceremonies is traditionally the Grave of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin Wall in Moscow.

In many regions of Russia, commemorative events begin in the early morning, at the time when the first reports of the outbreak of war were heard on June 22, 1941. Funeral services and litanies for the dead are held in churches.

Traditionally, on the Day of Remembrance and Mourning, national flags are lowered all over Russia. Cultural institutions and TV channels are changing the broadcast schedule: entertainment programs and concerts are being replaced by documentaries and war chronicles.

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In recent years, youth and volunteer actions dedicated to the preservation of historical memory have become particularly widespread. Volunteers help to put monuments, military graves and memorial complexes in order. Many cities host historical reconstructions, themed exhibitions, and film screenings about the Great Patriotic War.

Memorial actions "Candle of Memory" and "Minute of Silence"

One of the most famous actions related to the Day of Remembrance and Mourning is the "Candle of Remembrance". It became widespread in Russia in the early 2000s. On the night of June 21-22, people light candles in memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War.

The promotion takes place both offline and online. Participants place candles at memorials, windows of houses and monuments, and post themed images and words of remembrance on social networks. In Moscow, one of the central venues for the campaign is traditionally the Victory Museum and the area near the Grave of the Unknown Soldier.

The all-Russian "Minute of Silence" remains another important tradition. It usually takes place on the afternoon of June 22 simultaneously in all regions of the country. During the action, TV channels and radio stations stop broadcasting, some enterprises and public transport stop working, and residents of the country honor the memory of the victims with silence.

Commemorative events on the Day of Remembrance and Mourning annually unite millions of people in Russia and abroad. For many families, June 22 remains a personal date of remembrance associated with the history of relatives who participated in the war or died during the war years. Preserving the memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War and its victims remains one of the most important state tasks.