Spectacular Cultural Performances at Russia's 80th Victory Day
The grand celebration at The Diplomatic Club in Muscat marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War with a spectacular array of performances and cultural events. The evening was headlined by a riveting Cossack show performed by the renowned ensemble 'Lyubo-Milo' from Russia, captivating audiences with energetic dance and traditional music. The event also featured a vibrant concert showcasing songs from the war years, stirring memories and patriotic pride among attendees.
Supporting these performances, guests enjoyed a buffet of Russian and Soviet cuisine, along with specially designed photo zones reminiscent of wartime days, allowing families and guests to capture memorable moments amid a historical setting.
Spectacular Cultural Performances at Russia's 80th Victory Day
The celebration was organised by Russian House Oman, with the backing of the Board of Russian Compatriots in Oman, and was held under the patronage of the Russian Embassy in Oman and the Government of Moscow. The event drew a distinguished assembly of diplomats, business leaders, and dignitaries, including HE Oleg Levin, Russian Ambassador to Oman; ambassadors from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan; as well as prominent officials such as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Dagestan, Abdulmuslim Mukhudinovich Abdulmuslimov.
Spectacular Cultural Performances at Russia's 80th Victory Day
HE Oleg Levin underscored the enduring importance of Victory Day: "The Great Victory of 1945 is a testament to courage and unity. It is crucial that we remember the sacrifices made and ensure that the history remains truthful, unaltered, and shared globally. Victory Day is a reminder of hope and resilience, linking generations past and present."
Similarly, Igor Egorov, head of the Board of Russian Compatriots in Oman, expressed the event's significance: 'Victory Day is not only commemorative but also educational. It reflects our commitment to reinforce the values of peace and justice, fostering a mutual understanding between our nations.'
Spectacular Cultural Performances at Russia's 80th Victory Day
Special attention was given to engaging the younger generation, with activities designed to teach children about the importance of the victory and the sacrifices made by their ancestors. Anna Popova, director of Russian House Oman, highlighted these efforts: 'By educating children about Victory Day, we nurture qualities of fortitude, unity, and loyalty to peace — principles deeply rooted in both Russian and Omani cultures.'
The celebration in Muscat not only served as a poignant commemoration but also as a platform for strengthening cultural and diplomatic ties, promoting dialogue rooted in shared values of peace, resilience, and persistent remembrance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
21 hours ago
- Observer
Russia accuses Ukraine of postponing POW swap after massive attack
KYIV: Russia on Saturday accused Ukraine of postponing a large-scale exchange of captured soldiers, hours after Moscow's army launched a barrage of missiles, drones and bombs across the country. Kyiv and Moscow agreed to release all wounded soldiers and those aged under-25 that had been captured, with both sides saying the exchange was set for this weekend. The POW swap — to involve more than 1,000 people on each side — along with an agreement to hand over the bodies of thousands of killed soldiers was the only concrete outcome of a second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. Kyiv on denied Russian accusations and repatriation of the bodies of killed soldiers that the two sides had agreed at peace talks last week. Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement that there was no fixed date for the return of bodies and that Russia was not sticking to the agreed parameters of the POW swap, accusing Moscow of "dirty games" and "manipulations." Russia has rejected Ukraine's calls for an unconditional ceasefire, drawing accusations Moscow has no desire to halt its three-year attack. "The Ukrainian side has unexpectedly postponed for an indefinite period, both the acceptance of the bodies and the exchange of prisoners of war," Russia's top negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said on social media. Medinsky said Russia had brought the bodies of 1,212 killed Ukrainian soldiers to the "exchange area" — the first of 6,000 to be handed over. Moscow had also sent a list to Kyiv with the names of 640 POWs to be swapped in the first stage. The exchange was set to be the largest of the war, topping last month's 1,000-for-1,000 swap that was agreed at a first round of talks in Istanbul. "We urge Kyiv to strictly adhere to the timetable and all agreements reached, and begin the exchange immediately," Medinsky said. Kyiv did not immediately respond to the accusation. After the Istanbul talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the exchange would take place this weekend, while Russia said it was ready for Saturday, Sunday or Monday. The accusation came hours after Russia launched a massive aerial attack across Ukraine, heavily targeting the city of Kharkiv. At least eight people were killed in the overnight barrage and frontline shelling in total, officials said. Kharkiv came under "the most powerful attack since the beginning of the full-scale war," Mayor Igor Terekhov said. At least three people were killed and 17 wounded there after Russia pummelled homes and apartment blocks. Another six were still unaccounted for as of Saturday afternoon, believed to have been in an industrial site that was hit, the local prosecutor's office said. Three people were killed in the frontline Donetsk region, which has seen the most intense fighting of the war, and a couple were killed in the southern city of Kherson, another city close to the front. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga called for Kyiv's Western allies to punish Russia for refusing to halt its attack. "To put an end to Russia's killing and destruction, more pressure on Moscow is required, as are more steps to strengthen Ukraine," he said on social media. The Ukrainian air force said Russia had fired 206 drones and nine missiles in the overnight barrage. Russia's defence ministry said it had launched a "group strike" against "military-industrial" facilities in Ukraine, adding that all the "targets" had been hit. The comments are Moscow's latest to dampen hopes for a breakthrough amid the flurry of diplomacy, as well as telephone calls between Putin and US President Donald Trump. Despite Trump urging a swift end to the fighting, he Kremlin chief has issued a host of sweeping demands on Ukraine as preconditions to a truce. They include completely pulling troops out of four regions claimed by Russia, but which its army does not fully control, an end to Western military support and a ban on Ukraine joining Nato. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the demands as old ultimatums, questioned the purpose of more such talks and called for a summit to be attended by him, Putin and Trump. — AFP
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Three killed, 49 wounded in air attacks on Ukraine
KYIV: Russia launched an intense missile and drone barrage at the Ukrainian capital in the early hours of Friday and three people were killed, Ukrainian officials said, as powerful explosions reverberated across the country. The attacks followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, conveyed via US President Donald Trump, that the Kremlin would hit back after Ukrainian drones destroyed several strategic bomber aircraft in attacks deep inside Russia. Kyiv's military administration said three people were killed in the attacks on Kyiv after the mayor initially put the death toll at four. The three were first responders who had rushed to the scene of one of the strikes, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. "Overnight, Russia 'responded' to its destroyed aircraft... by attacking civilians in Ukraine.... Multi-storey buildings hit. Energy infrastructure damaged," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 49 people nationwide had been injured in the overnight attacks, which also struck several other towns and cities as well as Kyiv, as he called on Ukraine's Western allies to ramp up pressure on Russia. The air force said Russia had used 407 drones, one of the largest numbers recorded in a single attack. Forty-five cruise and ballistic missiles were also fired, it said. Kyiv's metro transport system was disrupted by a Russian strike that hit and damaged tracks between stations, Kyiv's military administration said. The state rail company said it was also diverting some trains due to rail damage outside the city. Reuters witnesses reported a series of booming explosions powerful enough to rattle windows far from the impact sites. Some Kyiv residents sought shelter in metro stations, or in underground car parks. In the capital's Solomianskyi district, a Russian drone slammed into the side of an apartment building, leaving a gaping hole and burn marks, a Reuters photographer at the scene said. Falling concrete blocks from the building crushed cars parked below. Two police investigators were examining what appeared to be the drone's engine. Earlier in the night, Reuters reporters heard the sound of Russian kamikaze drones buzzing in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of outgoing fire from Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire. Zelenskiy called for concerted pressure on Russia. "If someone is not applying pressure and is giving the war more time to take lives — that is complicity and accountability. We must act decisively," he wrote on X. As well as Kyiv, Russian forces also struck industrial facilities and infrastructure in the western city of Ternopil, leaving parts of it without power, mayor Serhii Nadal said. The regional administration said the attack had injured 10 people and recommended that residents temporarily stay inside due to a high concentration of toxic substances in the air after a fire. Five people were also injured in the northwestern city of Lutsk where an attack damaged private homes, educational institutions and a government building, according to mayor Ihor Polishchuk. Ukrainian military said it had launched a pre-emptive strike overnight on the Engels and Dyagilevo airfields in the Russian regions of Saratov and Ryazan, in addition to striking at least three fuel reservoirs. In one of the most audacious attacks of the war between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian spies last weekend destroyed some of Russia's strategic bomber aircraft on the ground using quadcopter drones hidden in wooden sheds. After a phone conversation with Putin on Wednesday, Trump said the Kremlin was planning an unspecified response to the Ukrainian attack on the Russian air bases. — Reuters
Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
Ukraine attack on Russian bombers risks escalation
WASHINGTON: Ukraine's dramatic drone attack on Russian bombers over the weekend has increased the risk of escalation to "unacceptable" levels, said US envoy Keith Kellogg. "The risk levels are going way up," Kellogg, President Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine and Russia, said. "When you attack an opponent's part of their national survival system, which is their nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other side is going to do." Ukraine conducted a massive drone attack against Russian military airbases on Sunday, saying it had destroyed several Russian nuclear-capable bombers worth billions of dollars. The triad refers to a country's nuclear strike capabilities across land, air, and sea. "But any time you attack the triad, it is not so much the damage done on the bombers... it's the psychological impact you have," said Kellogg, adding that it showed Ukraine "is not lying down on this." The attack also showed Ukraine can raise risk levels "that are basically to me, they've got to be unacceptable." Since Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, it has flexed its nuclear might to deter Kyiv's allies from intervening militarily. — AFP
