At the beginning of May, the entire world, including Ukraine, honors the victims of the Second World War. Until recently, the events of those years were considered the bloodiest confrontation in human history. Today, Ukraine is paying an equally high price for its own independence and, like no one else, understands the importance of these dates. May 8 or May 9 - what is the difference between these dates and why Ukraine switched to new traditions - UNN explains.
Details
For a long time, Ukrainians lived within the bubble of the Soviet celebration of the end of World War II; however, after the restoration of independence and especially against the backdrop of modern Russian aggression, a fundamental revision of historical events took place. The difference between May 8 and May 9 lies not only in chronology. It is a deep ideological, civilizational, and moral rift between the European culture of memory and totalitarian militarism.
May 8 - Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation in Ukraine
For most countries of the free world, May 8 is the date that symbolizes the triumph over Nazism, but at the same time, it is a day of great sorrow. In Ukraine, this day has received a completely new meaning, becoming a symbol of unity with European tradition and a rejection of Soviet ideological clichés that for years distorted the true price of victory. May 8 is a day when the main focus is on the individual and their tragedy, rather than the state and its military might. It is a commemoration of millions of lost lives, of soldiers from all armies of the anti-Hitler coalition, of civilians, prisoners of war, Ostarbeiters, and victims of the Holocaust and concentration camps.
The word "reconciliation" in the title does not mean forgiveness for the crimes of Nazism. It symbolizes reconciliation between the nations of Europe after the war, an awareness of shared wounds, and a collective responsibility to ensure that such a catastrophe never happens again. For Ukraine, which lost between eight and ten million of its citizens in World War II and whose lands were completely destroyed, this day signifies a deep honoring of every individual fate broken by the war.
Why May 8 is associated with the victory over Nazism
Historically, the first Act of Surrender of Nazi Germany was signed on May 7, 1945, in the French city of Reims by General Alfred Jodl.
However, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin expressed categorical dissatisfaction that the Western allies played the leading role in this process and demanded a re-signing of the surrender in Berlin, which was controlled by the Red Army.
The following day, May 8, at 22:43 Central European Time, in the Berlin suburb of Karlshorst, German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signed the second Act of Surrender. This is why all of Europe and the USA historically celebrate Victory in Europe Day on May 8, the moment the document came into force.
May 9 - what is this date
The appearance of May 9 in the calendar as a separate holiday is exclusively a consequence of time zones and the political ambitions of the Soviet leadership, which sought to claim the primary credit for the defeat of the Third Reich. When the Act of Surrender was signed in Berlin (at 22:43 on May 8), it was already May 9 in Moscow (00:43) due to the time difference. It was from this chronological detail that a separate Soviet holiday was born.
Interestingly, during Stalin's rule, May 9 was not a large-scale state holiday with parades. As early as 1947, the day off was canceled: the country was in ruins, and the authorities forced people to work, attempting to hide the vast number of war invalids who were being evicted from major cities.
"Victory Day" acquired a massive ideological scale only twenty years later, in 1965, during the era of Leonid Brezhnev. The holiday became a tool for legitimizing Soviet power and creating a new militaristic identity for post-war generations.
Is May 9 celebrated in Ukraine?
Today in Ukraine, May 9 is no longer celebrated as the Day of Victory over Nazism. The transformation lasted several years: since 2015, the country marked May 8 as the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, and May 9 as the Day of Victory over Nazism. However, the logical conclusion of this process occurred in 2023, when the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the President passed a historic law. According to it, May 8 became the sole day for honoring the memory of the victims of World War II and the victory over Nazism. Meanwhile, May 9 was officially proclaimed Europe Day to emphasize Ukraine's unity with the countries of the European continent that support us in our modern struggle for freedom.
What is the difference between May 8 and May 9
The difference between these two dates lies not in the calendar plane, but in ideology and the attitude toward the value of human life. This is a clash of two completely opposite narratives.
The European-style May 8 is about quiet sorrow, focus on the tragedy of war, empathy for the victims, and gratitude to those who fought against evil. The main slogan of this approach is the phrase "Never again," which signifies a categorical rejection of war as a way to resolve political conflicts.
In contrast, May 9, which is actively cultivated in modern Russia, has turned into an aggressive celebration of state victory. It is accompanied by loud military parades, saber-rattling, the militarization of children, and the slogan "We can do it again." This approach devalues human losses, turning war into a carnival of patriotic ecstasy and a tool for intimidating neighboring sovereign states.
European and Soviet traditions
The European tradition is based on the realization that in a great war there are no absolute winners, as all sides suffer losses. It is a day when the descendants of opposing camps can stand side by side, mourning their dead, and building a common peaceful future. The Soviet, and now Russian tradition, on the contrary, is based on isolationism, messianism, and the appropriation of a monopoly on victory. It ignores the help of the allies in the anti-Hitler coalition and uses the memory of World War II to justify its own modern aggressive policy and the occupation of foreign territories.
Symbolism and prohibitions in Ukraine
Rethinking history is impossible without changing visual symbolism, as symbols are powerful carriers of ideological memory. With the beginning of decommunization and the protection of its own information space, Ukraine abandoned hostile signs.
The red poppy became the official symbol of remembrance for the victims of all military and civilian armed conflicts in Ukraine. This symbol has deep international roots dating back to World War I, when Canadian military doctor John McCrae wrote the famous poem "In Flanders Fields," where red poppies grew on the graves of fallen soldiers. The Ukrainian symbol, developed by Kharkiv designer Serhii Mishakin, is particularly evocative: on one hand, it resembles a blooming poppy flower, and on the other, a bloody bullet hole. It is an exceptionally strong visual image that symbolizes shed blood and pierces with pain, calling for remembrance, not for war.
Why the St. George's ribbon is banned
The St. George's ribbon has been officially banned by law in Ukraine since 2017. This black-and-orange ribbon has imperial Russian roots but was mass-introduced as a symbol of victory only in 2005 by Russian political consultants during a special propaganda campaign. Its main goal was the consolidation of the "Russian world."
In the spring of 2014, this ribbon finally lost any connection to World War II, becoming the official identification mark of Russian troops, separatists, and mercenaries who annexed Crimea and started a bloody war in the Ukrainian Donbas. Today, for every Ukrainian, it is a symbol of terrorism, occupation, and death.
How May 8 and 9 are observed in Ukraine today
Today, in the conditions of a full-scale war for survival waged by Ukraine against the Russian occupiers, these dates have acquired unprecedented emotional intensity and historical clarity.
May 8 in Ukraine passes without pompous marches, military equipment in the squares, or loud concerts. The format of the observance is purely memorial: laying flowers at monuments to the Unknown Soldier, holding prayer services, meeting with veterans, and moments of silence. A feature of the present day is that while honoring the heroes of World War II, Ukrainians inextricably link their feat with the feat of the modern defenders of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This symbolizes the continuity of the Ukrainian people's struggle for their right to exist against imperial invaders of different historical eras.
Ukrainians have radically changed their attitude toward May holidays - survey5/1/26, 2:21 PM