Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
December 3 is a memorial date established in 2014 by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin to mark the anniversary of the reburial of the ashes of an unknown defender of Moscow who died in 1941 on the outskirts of the capital. It was on December 3, 1966, the 25th anniversary of the defeat of German troops outside Moscow, that the Eternal Flame was lit at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin Wall.
This day is not just a tribute, but a recognition: in the history of the Great Patriotic War, millions of lives remain nameless. According to the General Staff, the Red Army suffered irreparable losses of 8.6 million people, and more than two million of them are still considered missing in action. For thousands of families, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the only place to honor the memory of their fathers and grandfathers, whose names have not been preserved in the archives, but whose heroism remains forever etched in history.
The idea for this date belongs to the activists of the Search Movement of Russia, who undertake expeditions every spring and fall to find the remains of the fallen, establish their names, and restore lost memories to their families. Their work is not only based on archaeology and forensics, but also on humanism: every soldier found is not ashes, but a person with a name, dreams, and loved ones.
The traditions of Unknown Soldier Day are simple and restrained: laying flowers at the Eternal Flame, observing a moment of silence, and holding vigils of remembrance. Red carnations, a symbol of courage and spilled blood, are most often carried to the monuments. Schools hold "Lessons of Courage," libraries and museums host thematic exhibitions, and universities host commemorative gatherings. All of these are united by a single goal: to pass on historical memory to new generations.
In 2025, the central event was the opening of the exhibition "Faces of Unidentified Heroes" at the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Hill. On display for the first time were 20 graphic portraits of soldiers, whose likenesses were reconstructed by scientists from the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences based on remains found in mass graves. On the opening day, a ceremony was held to present the Order of the Red Star to the relatives of Junior Sergeant Nikolai Klushin, a soldier from the 191st Rifle Division who died 80 years ago—another step in restoring their names.
In addition, the Victory Museum is hosting a panel session on the role of science and technology in search work, and the G.O.R.A. branch of the museum is hosting an exhibition on the history of monuments to the Unknown Soldier throughout Russia.
Unknown Soldier Day reminds us: a heroic deed doesn't require a name to be significant. But everyone who gave their life for their country deserves to be remembered with gratitude.
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: December 3, 2025.
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