On February 25, 2025, a solemn event dedicated to Defender of the Fatherland Day was held at the Russian Center for Science and Culture. The central event of the holiday was the screening of the documentary “ALLIES. Faithfully and truly!”, dedicated to the heroes of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition and their feat in the name of victory over fascism.
As previously reported by TASS, representatives of the embassies of the countries that were allies of the USSR in World War II, the Cypriot authorities and the island’s public, including Russian compatriots, were invited to the screening. The presence of diplomats underlined the international importance and relevance of the idea of the film.
History repeats itself — just like 80 years ago, the world is facing the threat of neo-fascism. Then the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition were able to unite and defeat Nazism.
The memory of the heroes of the Second World War is not just a tribute, but an important lesson for the present. And today, the world is once again faced with a choice: to support truth and justice or to turn a blind eye to crimes.
A film that touched audiences all over the world
The author of the idea, co-author of the script and producer of the film, Alexander Smolko, presented the picture and talked about its creation. The film is based on the unique memories of 12 World War II veterans, including not only soldiers from the USSR, the USA, Great Britain and France, but also a former Wehrmacht soldier who realized the horrors of war in his old age and called for peace.
Smolko stressed that this film is about ordinary people who find themselves in the midst of a global tragedy. The film contains rare archival footage from the United States and Western European countries, and its premieres took place in Paris, Berlin, London, and even in the famous Churchill War Rooms bunker museum in the presence of members of the British royal family.
“An American veteran, a participant in the Arctic convoy PQ-17, recognized that the United States owes Soviet soldiers the fact that the USSR, having been the first to enter the war and having lost 27 million lives, gave them time to recover after the attack on Pearl Harbor,” Smolko said during the discussion.
The film won the Golden Sword Grand Prix of the VIII International War Film Festival, the prize of the American Association of World War II Veterans and special awards from international film forums.
🎖 Memory of the heroes and traditions of the war years
After the screening, a discussion of the film took place, during which the guests shared their impressions and reflections on the modern struggle against neo-fascism.
At the end of the evening, the guests could taste 50 grams of “frontline” with bacon and black bread – a symbolic tribute to those who, step by step, brought Victory closer during the war.
The event at the Russian House in Cyprus was an important reminder that the feat of the heroes of the Second World War is not only a part of history, but also a lesson for the future. Today, when the world is once again facing challenges, historical memory and allies must remain a strong shield against unfreedom and oblivion.
The Russian Center for Science and Culture in Nicosia would like to thank all the guests and participants for joining us on this day, for your support and genuine interest in history!
