Bhubaneswar: The Russian Embassy in New Delhi is set to honour former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik on the occasion of Victory Day, which commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. This year marks the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, to be celebrated on May 9.
Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, has invited Naveen Patnaik, son of former Odisha CM Biju Patnaik and president of the Biju Janata Dal, to attend the Victory Day celebrations in New Delhi. The event will be graced by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as the chief guest.
In a letter to Naveen Patnaik, Alipov paid tribute to Biju Patnaik’s contributions, stating, “In this solemn moment of pride, grief and unwavering remembrance, we honour those who stood together against Nazism in anti-Hitler coalition and commemorate the heroic deeds of the people of the former Soviet Union and its allies who bore the brunt of the most brutal conflict in human history. Among the heroes who we pay tribute to is your late father, Honorable Shri Biju Patnaik ji, a towering personality and a valiant pilot of the Indian National Airways who had participated in the Stalingrad Operation supplying weapons to the besieged Red Army. In 1995, Russia decorated Shri Biju Patnaik with the jubilee medal ‘50th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945’ for his feat of bravery and courage.”
The event aims to honour those who fought against Nazism and commemorate the sacrifices made during World War II.
