UNITY HAS ALWAYS HELPED RUSSIA DEFEND ITS INDEPENDENCE

SARAJEVO, NOVEMBER 3 /SRNA/ – Historical experience convincingly shows that the peoples of Russia, when facing severe trials, have always found the strength to unite, defend the independence of their homeland and secure its further development, the Russian Embassy in BiH told SRNA on the occasion of National Unity Day, November 4.

The Embassy stressed that Russia's strength lies in the unity of its peoples, respect for their cultural traditions, a shared historical memory and the determination to defend the sovereignty and future of their country.

"We are convinced that today, too, the harmony of Russia's multinational society, its devotion to shared spiritual and moral values and its responsibility for the fate of the homeland remain the guarantee that all challenges will be overcome," the diplomatic mission said.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation said National Unity Day symbolizes patriotism, harmony and devotion to the homeland, and reminded the historical facts behind the holiday and the reasons it is marked.

"This holiday recalls heroic pages of Russian history, when people of different nationalities, social groups and faiths united to defend their native land and preserve its independence and statehood," the Russian Embassy said.

The Embassy explained that the holiday's historical roots go back to the events of 1612, when a people's militia led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky liberated Moscow from Polish invaders. This brought the country out of the Time of Troubles and restored its independence.

At a decisive moment for the country's fate, the Embassy stressed, the unity of the people and their readiness to defend the freedom and sovereignty of the homeland were key to victory over the enemy.

"There is a certain historical irony in the fact that some European capitals, which have madly tried to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia at the hands of the Kyiv regime, are increasingly facing severe crises, internal divisions and unrest today, the causes of which should be sought solely in their own irresponsible policies," the Russian Embassy said.

The Embassy pointed out that National Unity Day has special significance in 2026, which Russian President Vladimir Putin declared by decree the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia.

It explained that the aim of the decision is to highlight Russia's unique character. In Russia, people of many nations, cultures and religions have lived and worked together for centuries, preserving their own identity while feeling that they belong to a common homeland.

"Russia's multinational unity is not only a historical legacy but also one of the most important foundations of our statehood, strength and prosperity," the Embassy said.

According to the Embassy, the peoples of Russia are bound together by a shared history, traditional spiritual and moral values, respect for cultural and religious diversity, and responsibility for the present and future of the country.

The brightest example of this unity was the heroic feat of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, when people of all nationalities fought side by side against Nazism, defended the freedom of their country and liberated the peoples of Europe.

In this context, the Russian Embassy added, the establishment of a new day of remembrance in Russia is especially significant: the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People Committed by the Nazis and Their Accomplices.

This day was officially marked for the first time on April 19, 2026, honoring the memory of millions of peaceful Soviet citizens who were victims of the Nazi policy of extermination.

The Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People is a moral duty to the generation of victors and a reminder that misanthropic ideologies must never be allowed to revive, the Russian Embassy in BiH said.

The Embassy also noted that preserving the historical truth about Nazi crimes and countering attempts to justify them or revise the outcome of the Second World War remain among the most important tasks of the Russian Federation and its society.

The Embassy also reminded that the elections for deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, held in September this year, clearly demonstrate the unity of the peoples of Russia.

"Their results showed the patriotic consolidation of society and citizens' support for the course of Russian President Vladimir Putin, aimed at strengthening state sovereignty, ensuring national security and protecting Russia's interests," the Embassy said.

In its reply to SRNA, the Embassy stressed that this patriotic stance of Russian citizens is especially important amid the hybrid war the collective West is waging against Russia, seeking to test its sovereignty, weaken its statehood and spread divisions in society.

The Russian diplomatic mission said that, just as four centuries ago, when the people's militia of Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky liberated Moscow from foreign invaders, the unity of the people remains today the key pillar in protecting national interests and the country's independent path of development.