On May 5–10, Russia will host a thematic blog tour dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The event is organized by Rosmolodezh in collaboration with the World Youth Festival Directorate, Rospatriottsentr, the Volunteers of Victory movement, and the “More Than a Trip” programme.

“On the occasion of the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland and the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, we are organizing a thematic tour for 35 popular bloggers from 19 countries. It is important that our guests see Russia with their own eyes, learn more about its history and culture, and share their impressions with their audiences abroad. We are open to cooperation and confident that such formats will allow our foreign guests to show the real Russia – a country that welcomes everyone ready to join us in building a multipolar world and a happy future”, said **Grigory Gurov, Head of Rosmolodezh. **

Blog tour participants include representatives from Russia, France, Belgium, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Vietnam, the USA, Bulgaria, Abkhazia, Canada, India, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Serbia, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

“The blog tour programme is designed to let young people fully dive into the events of the Great Patriotic War and help them understand the price the Soviet people paid for victory over Nazism. International bloggers will visit five hero cities, where they will learn about key episodes of the war, visit memorial complexes, take part in commemorative events, Victory Parades, and more. They will not only explore our country's history but also share it with their combined audience of over 42 million people. Today, amid constant attempts to rewrite the history of World War II, projects like this blog tour become especially important – serving as a shield of truth. That is why it is crucial for young people to preserve historical memory and pass it on to future generations, preventing the spread of Nazi ideas in the modern world”, said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate. 

Divided into groups, foreign opinion leaders followed four routes: Moscow–Volgograd Region, St. Petersburg–Leningrad Region, St. Petersburg–Republic of Karelia, and Moscow–Tula Region.

As part of the first route, participants will visit Moscow and Volgograd, learning about the Battle of Stalingrad and the fierce fighting that took place there. They will tour Mamayev Hill and the memorial complex “To the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad”, see the “Motherland Calls” monument, visit the “Old Sarepta” Museum Reserve, and the “Rossoshki” complex with mass graves of Stalingrad defenders. The bloggers will also lay flowers at the “Grieving Mother” monument and meet with World War II veterans and Volunteers of Victory.

On Victory Day, May 9, they will attend the Victory Parade in the hero city of Volgograd and watch the fireworks. Blog tour participants will also join the patriotic campaign “Blue Victory Handkerchief”, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory and the role of women during the Great Patriotic War, and meet with representatives of the International Friendship Clubs of the Volgograd Region.

"I am a military and geopolitical analyst joining the upcoming blog tour in Russia. As someone deeply interested in history, it is a great honor to be part of this journey. I look forward to visiting sacred places like Mamayev Hill and meeting World War II veterans – it is both touching and significant. For me, this is more than just a trip. It is an opportunity to connect with living historical memory and share it with my audience back home. I can't wait to capture these moments in photos, videos, and stories for people in the Czech Republic. Thank you for this opportunity”, shared a participant from the Czech Republic.

The second route takes place in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. Here, bloggers will explore the life of besieged Leningrad, learning about the resilience and courage of its residents, who did not surrender to the fascist invaders. Participants will tour the city and visit the Museum of the Defense and Siege of Leningrad, the immersive panorama museum “Lost in the Newsreel”, “The Breaking of the Leningrad Seige” panorama museum, the “Broken Ring” monument, the “Road of Life” museum, the steam locomotive “Esh-4375 Komsomolets”, the Oreshek Fortress, and the Museum of Naval Glory. They will also attend the Victory Parade in St. Petersburg and join the “Immortal Regiment” march alongside members of the International Friendship Club of St. Petersburg.

The third route includes visits to Moscow and Tula. Participants have already arrived in Moscow, where they will visit Poklonnaya Hill (Victory Park), lay flowers at the Eternal Flame, tour the Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces, and watch the rehearsal of the Parade on Red Square. They will also learn about the defensive operations and battles in Tula.

The fourth route in St. Petersburg and the Republic of Karelia, will introduce participants to the tragic events in Petrozavodsk and the struggle of military and partisan warfare against Finnish invaders. Bloggers will visit local landmarks, tour “The Breaking of the Leningrad Seige” panorama museum, the memorial site “Height 168.5”, the Center of Military Glory in Petrozavodsk, and the military-historical complex “Gora Filina” (Owl Mountain). On May 9, they will attend the Victory Parade in St. Petersburg and join the “Immortal Regiment” march with activists from the International Friendship Club of St. Petersburg. 

During the blog tour, young people will meet with World War II veterans and hear firsthand accounts of life on the front lines and the home front.

Foreign bloggers will share these experiences in their home countries through social media. The blog tour will serve as another step toward protecting and preserving historical truth.

Overview:

The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 in Sirius, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.

On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, the WYF will be held in Russia on a regular basis – once in six years. Also, every six years 10,000 young people from all over the world will get together at the World Youth Festival Forum, and in between, international themed assemblies for 2,000 participants will be held under the auspices of the WYF. The first Assembly is scheduled to take place in September 2025 in Nizhny Novgorod. Festival events of various formats will be held in Russia annually.

According to the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation on the preservation and development of the Festival legacy, the World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.