Moscow, September 18, 2025, 7:24 PM — Regnum News Agency. Joseph Stalin's personal role in the victory in the Great Patriotic War must not be forgotten and must be depoliticized. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 18.
"In general, everything related to the Great Patriotic War and Stalin's role in the victory must be kept in mind and efforts must be made to depoliticize it," the head of state noted at a meeting with parliamentary faction leaders.
Putin added that there were many problems associated with repression during Stalin's time, and the country should not forget this.
"But it is also unfair to forget the role this particular individual played in the Soviet people's victory in the Great Patriotic War," the president emphasized.
Putin also noted that the proposal to rename Volgograd to Stalingrad requires further consideration. According to the head of state, a renaming is possible if the city's residents so desire.
On April 29, Volgograd Region Governor Andrei Bocharov, during a meeting with Putin, conveyed a request from veterans and participants of the special operation to rename Volgograd Airport to its historical name, "Stalingrad." The head of state supported the idea, noting that the words of the combat veterans are law for him.