Establishing May 8 as the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism

Primary author: Володимир Зеленський

In 2023, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported a presidential draft law submitted by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to which May 8 is designated as the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II (1939–1945) (draft law No. 9278).

As a result, May 9, which had traditionally been marked as “Victory Day,” was transformed—following a presidential decree—into Europe Day.

The only MP who voted against the draft law was Maksym Buzhanskyi, whose Telegram channel has been described by critics as part of a pro-Kremlin network.

Several MPs did not participate in the vote, despite voting “in favor” on subsequent issues. These included Nestor Shufrych, Oleksandr Dubinskyi, Serhii Liovochkin, Oleksandr Koltunov, Vitalii Bort, Serhii Larin, and Serhii Dunaiev.