On the reception in Israel on the occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day

On February 20, in the Sergey Courtyard of Jerusalem, on the occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day a reception was organized on behalf of the Ambassador of Russia Anatoly Viktorov and Military, Air Force and Naval Attaché at the Embassy of Russia in Israel Colonel Vladimir Gerasimenko.

At the beginning of the reception, Anatoly Viktorov, on behalf of the Embassy of Russia and his own behalf, expressed sincere condolences to the leadership and people of Israel, the families and loved ones of the hostages, whose bodies were returned from the Gaza Strip on February 20.

In his address, Anatoly Viktorov recalled that 2025 was declared the Year of Defender of the Fatherland in Russia to mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. He thanked the veterans. Pointed out that all of us will always remember their unparalleled courage and bravery. Noted that today Russian soldiers continue the just cause of their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers, courageously resisting the proponents of neo-Nazi ideology and falsifiers of history. He expressed gratitude to the devotees and civil activists who support and help our soldiers. Emphasized that the Embassy will continue the foreign policy line determined by President Vladimir Putin, which is based on the generally recognized norms of international law, primarily on the UN Charter in its entirety and the interdependence of its provisions. He assured that our country will be protected from any threats to its security.

The full text of Anatoly Viktorov's address can be found at the link.

Colonel Vladimir Gerasimenko also delivered a congratulatory speech.

Present were representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, UN staff, ambassadors and military attachés of friendly countries, the Consul General of Russia in Haifa Alexander Budaev, Honorary consuls of Russia Moshe Mano and Ameen Safia, Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeev), Head of the Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Archimandrite Roman (Krasovsky), Deputy Director of the Russian House in Israel German Granovsky, Director of the Antonin Kapustin Foundation Ruslan Ashurbeyli, veterans, compatriots and journalists.