Honoring Heroes: A Closer Look at the Immortal Regiment
Over 145,000 Sakuts commemorated the 80th anniversary of victory by participating in the "Immortal Regiment" march.
Step into the streets of Yakutia, Russia on May 9th, 2025, and you'll find a sea of people marching, their faces lit by the glow of memory. This is the Immortal Regiment, a heartfelt tribute to the heroes of World War II and beyond.
On this special anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, approximately 145,000 residents of Yakutia took part - around 95,000 in the districts and a crowd of 50,000 in Yakutsk itself. Each participant carried a portrait - a war veteran, a home front worker, a concentration camp prisoner, a local conflict participant, or a child of war. The march was open to anyone wishing to join.
In Yakutsk, the procession followed a military-patriotic parade that included representatives from law enforcement agencies and public organizations.
trace back to the roots of this emotional march, we find ourselves in Tyumen in 2007. There, at the initiative of the chairman of the regional veterans' council, Gennady Ivanov, citizens stepped out onto the streets with portraits of their frontline veterans. By 2012, the action had grown, officially earning the title "Immortal Regiment" and spreading nationwide.
By the 70th anniversary of Victory in 2015, the Immortal Regiment had taken place in 1,150 cities and 17 countries around the world. With over half a million people participating in Moscow, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and reaching over 10 million globally by 2019. An unprecedented 12 million people marched in 2022, not just in Russia, but in 90 countries worldwide, with Yakutia contributing over 124,000 participants.
While additional details on the Yakutia march aren't readily available, it's clear the Immortal Regiment has made a significant impact across the globe. From Washington to Caracas, Rome to Paris, and even in Vietnam, the Immortal Regiment marches have allowed participants to honor their ancestral heroes and historical sacrifices made during World War II.
However, as the Immortal Regiment evolves over time, it serves not only as a personal tribute but also as a powerful tool for cultural and political influence. Once a grassroots, non-partisan initiative, it has now become linked to organizations closely tied to the political establishment in Russia, promoting Russian political interests and narratives abroad.
The march, as well as the St. George’s ribbon - a symbol of Soviet military valor, have become emblematic of these events. Though the ribbon has also gained association with Russian aggression in Ukraine since 2014.
In recent years, the scope of the Immortal Regiment has expanded, raising the possibility of honoring participants in current military operations, such as in Ukraine, within these marches. A moving tribute that has transformed from a personal commemoration to a broader platform for political messaging.
- General-news reports indicate that the Immortal Regiment, an annual tribute to World War II heroes, was initiated by Gennady Ivanov, a local veteran's council chairman, in Tyumen, Russia, in 2007.
- The Immortal Regiment, initially a non-partisan initiative, has grown in political significance, being linked to organizations associated with the Russian political establishment.
- In 2025, the Immortal Regiment marches occurred in 90 countries worldwide, including Yakutia, where over 145,000 residents participated.
- Controversially, the scope of the Immortal Regiment has recently expanded to potentially include honoring participants in current military operations, such as those in Ukraine.
