Instead of “Great Patriotic War”, the NSDC proposes to use the terms “World War II” or “Soviet-German war”
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) proposed to abandon the term “Great Patriotic War”, replacing it with other options. The terminology was proposed in the dictionary of names and terms that are recommended to be used “in connection with the occupation of Crimea and the regions of Donbass.”
The term “Great Patriotic War” is indicated in the dictionary in the column “Fakes / clichés”. Instead, the NSDC proposed using two options: “World War II” and “Soviet-German war.”
This dictionary is recommended for use by the Ukrainian authorities, diplomats and media representatives.
In June 2017, the then president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, signed a law prohibiting the production and promotion of St. George’s ribbons in the country. He stated that they are a symbol of “aggression against Ukraine in 2014-2017” and not of the Second World War.
Public use, image and demonstration of the tape are subject to fines ranging from UAH 850 to 2550 (2.2–6.8 thousand rubles). For a repeated violation during the year, a fine of up to UAH 5100 (13.7 thousand rubles) or administrative arrest for up to 15 days is provided.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly accused foreign countries of trying to rewrite history. So, in December 2019, he accused the European Parliament of intending to distort the historical truth in connection with the adoption of the resolution “On the importance of preserving historical memory for the future of Europe.”
He was outraged by the fact that the resolution “actually put both the Nazi aggressors and the Soviet Union on the same level, almost blaming the USSR along with Nazi Germany for unleashing the Second World War.”
The Russian president noted that rewriting history as a result would harm those who are doing it for the sake of momentary political interests.
