The message reads, in part:
“Our country made a decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism and, after the victorious conclusion of the Great Patriotic War, fully honoured its allied commitments. The swift advance of our troops fundamentally altered the strategic situation in the Far East, rendering Japan’s capitulation inevitable and playing a crucial role in liberating the peoples of China, Korea, and other Southeast Asian nations from the threat of extermination and enslavement. One of the final and truly fateful battles of World War II was the defeat of a large Japanese force during the storming of Shumshu Island and the subsequent liberation of the Kuril Archipelago by Soviet troops.
The unparalleled bravery and courage of the Red Army and Red Navy men who took part in the Kuril Landing Operation will forever remain in the memory of our people. Today, on Shumshu Island, a ceremony will take place to bury the remains of the fallen heroes, lay the foundation stone for a military-historical memorial complex, and present a historical reenactment of the landing on Shumshu.
The feat of that victorious generation will always stand as an inspiring example and a profound moral guide for us. I am confident that today’s commemorative events will help preserve historical continuity and strengthen the patriotic education of our youth.”