Sanjay Seth represents India at 80th Victory Day celebration in Moscow

Sanjay Seth, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, represented India at the 80th Victory Day celebration in Moscow, Russia, on 9 May 2025. Initially, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to participate in the celebration, but due to the Pahalgam terror incident, he sent Sanjay Seth to represent India.

During his visit to Moscow, Sanjay Seth met the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. He also met the Russian Deputy Defence Minister, Colonel General Alexander Fomin, and discussed multifaceted military & military – technical cooperation and agreed further to deepen ties within the framework of existing institutional mechanisms. 

India and Russia have a very friendly and strategic relationship, and Sanjay Seth's visit to Moscow was an affirmation of these ties.

Victory Day Celebration in Russia 

Every year, a Victory Day celebration is held in Moscow’s Red Square on 9th of May to celebrate the victory of the Soviet Union over  Nazi Germany during World War II. 

On this Day in 1945, Nazi Germany signed the instrument of surrender, ending the Second World War.

The surrender agreement was signed on 8 May 1945, but it was 9 May in Moscow. Thus, the Europeans celebrate on 8th May while the Russians celebrate on 9 May. 

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian President Boris Yeltsin made it an annual event from 9 May 1995.

The day is dedicated to the 25-27 million people of the Soviet Union who were killed during the war.

A military parade is held in Moscow on this day, where Russia displays its military might.

Participation of World Leaders 

The Russian government invites friendly world leaders to the Victory Day Celebration every year. 

This year, Chinese President Xi Jinping was the chief guest of the victory celebration.

 Several world leaders, such as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, and Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, also attended the Victory Day Celebration.