Monday saw the very first Immortal Regiment march in London. The event was part of the Victory Day celebrations, which mark the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Attendees of the event bore photographs of relatives who fell during the ‘Great Patriotic War’, as the war is known in Russia. The celebrations saw crowds gather in Trafalgar Square and proceed past the Houses of Parliament before coming to a stop opposite the House of Lords. Many of those who participated were Russian, however other nationalities were also in attendance.

Attendees of the Immortal Regiment stand outside the Houses of Parliament bearing photos of relatives who fought. Photo credit: Elena McNeilly

The event was organised by the Immortal March, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to preserving the memory of those who fought in WWII. The first ever Immortal March was held in the Siberian city of Tomsk in 2012 and quickly spread across Russia.

In Russia, Victory Day is observed on May 9th and is often celebrated in major cities with military parades. Many Russians show their respect by wearing orange and black ribbons, the colours of St. George, the patron saint of Moscow. The orange and black bicolour has become synonymous with Victory Day and Russian patriotism.

Children in Crimea commemorated Victory Day by inscribing paper ships with messages to relatives who fought. Photo credit: Sergey Malgavko / Sputnik

Victory Day became a national holiday in Russia in 1965, but during the 90's the day was not celebrated so fervently as it had been in the Soviet era. However, since the presidency of Vladimir Putin, Victory Day has been marked with increased vigour, with some alleging that the holiday is being instrumentalised to promote Russian militarism. In 2015, Russia’s relations with the West reached their lowest point for 25 years and the day was commemorated in Moscow with the largest military parade in the history of the event.

Despite such allegations, the day is considered by many Russians as a day of celebration and is a family-oriented event for many. Children in Crimea marked the event by inscribing paper ships with messages to relatives who fought in the war and releasing them into the sea. Many observe Victory Day by watching Soviet war films.