May 8 marked the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE-Day), the end of World War II in Europe, specifically the capitulation of Nazi forces to the Allies (the Soviet Union, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and other Allied countries). Joining with the United States and Europe in this milestone event, both Ukraine and Russia sought to commemorate this occasion – the former to gain proper recognition for its role in the victory and to draw attention to the ongoing Russia-sponsored conflict on its territory, and the latter as another opportunity to build national self-esteem and to present itself as a dominant world power.
In Ukraine. On April 9, 2015, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law on De-Communization, which helped to introduce in Ukraine the European tradition of a prayerful and solemn celebration of the victory over Nazism in World War II. On that date, Ukraine adopted the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation (to be observed on May 8), which occurs before the now Russian holiday of Victory Day (May 9).