Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 9 May, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the official events marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II, following an invitation from President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

The Victory Day Parade was held on Red Square in Moscow. Alongside the Uzbek President, the ceremony was attended by President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel, President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro, and other heads of state.

The victory in World War II was the result of extraordinary courage, resilience, and sacrifice by millions of people. The multinational people of Uzbekistan made a significant contribution to this great triumph.

At the onset of the war, Uzbekistan's population exceeded 6 million. More than 2 million Uzbeks were mobilized to the front; over 538,000 were killed in action, and about 158,000 went missing in battle.

For their heroism and military achievements, over 214,000 Uzbek soldiers were awarded orders and medals; 301 were named Heroes of the Soviet Union, and 70 became full recipients of the Order of Glory.

In addition to their heroics on the battlefield, the people of Uzbekistan demonstrated exceptional labor courage, becoming a reliable rear stronghold.

From Uzbek soil, the front was continuously supplied with food, uniforms, medicine, weapons, and other resources. More than 170 evacuated factories were relocated to Uzbekistan in record time, ensuring stable operation of the defense industry.

In an outstanding display of humanity, the Uzbek people welcomed more than 1.5 million evacuees from frontline areas, including over 250,000 orphaned children.

The heroism of the Uzbek people during the war has been widely recognized by the international community. The country continues extensive efforts to preserve the memory of wartime veterans and home-front workers, providing comprehensive support to surviving veterans. A symbol of respect for the generation of Victory is the Victory Park memorial complex in Tashkent.

Following the parade, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, together with President Vladimir Putin and other foreign leaders, laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden.

This memorial, dedicated to those who gave their lives in the name of Victory—including many from Uzbekistan—symbolizes the resilience, bravery, and self-sacrifice of the defenders of the homeland.

The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence and a ceremonial march by the honor guard unit accompanied by a military orchestra.