On May 6 at 12:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host a presentation of its new Valdai Paper, titled “Immortal Letters of Victory,” timed to the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The paper features previously unpublished soldiers’ letters, front-line correspondence marked with field postmarks, and wartime diaries. These original documents come from a private memorial collection of handwritten materials from the Great Patriotic War, gathered in Russia and abroad by Tamara Shashikhina, Director of the Foreign Ministry MGIMO University’s Eurasian Studies Institute.
Published by the Valdai Club, these texts unveil previously unknown accounts of a military unit’s combat journey – from the liberation of the Ukrainian SSR to the advance on Budapest. They also include descriptions of partisan operations, daily life on the front, personal reflections, poetry, and firsthand stories of Victory Day, capturing how soldiers and civilians alike learned of the war’s end. Through these rare testimonies, we gain an intimate perspective on the Great Patriotic War as experienced by those who lived it.
Preserving the memory of history’s most devastating conflict remains a crucial mission. As the paper’s authors note: “The outcome of WWII created an international order that is probably the most reliable and stable in history. Nothing lasts forever, and changing circumstances tend to erode even the most durable agreements.” These documents serve as a powerful reminder of the cost of peace, the lessons and tragic mistakes of the 20th century, and the potential for unity amid discord.
How is historical memory evolving amid today’s global tensions? Can a shared understanding of World War II’s legacy still be achieved? How can we safeguard the USSR’s pivotal role in defeating fascism in today’s media landscape? What tools and platforms can effectively preserve this legacy? Experts will address these issues and more during the event.
Speakers:
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Tamara Shashikhina, Director of the Foreign Ministry MGIMO University’s Eurasian Studies Institute (co-author of the Paper)
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Rein Müllerson, President of the Institute of International Law in Geneva (2013–2015) (Estonia)
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Stanislav Kovpak, Chief Advisor of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation on Human Rights of the Russian Foreign Ministry, former representative of the Russian Ministry of Justice to the Council of Europe
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Biljana Vankovska, Professor, Board Member of the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research (Lund, Sweden)
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Igor Permyakov, Director of the Russian State Archive of Contemporary History (RSACH)
Moderator:
- Oleg Barabanov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club (co-author of the Paper)
Working languages: Russian, English.
Information for the media: In order to get accredited for the event, please fill out the form on our web site. If you have any questions about the event, please call +79269307763
Links to the live broadcast of the discussion will be posted on all online platforms of the Valdai Club: on the website, X (formerly Twitter), VK, Telegram and Dzen.
