Krasnodar More than 2,200 themed events will take place on February 23 and the day before the holiday in all municipalities of Kuban. Patriotic campaigns, festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and flash mobs are being organized. Volunteers will visit veterans of the Great Patriotic War and prepare parcels and greeting cards for servicemen, according to a press service.

In the run-up to the holiday, cleanup events will be organized at military memorial sites in the region, with more than 2,000 people expected to participate. Across the region, 120 ceremonies of laying wreaths, garlands, and flowers at monuments and memorials of Kuban’s military history will be held.

Throughout the week, public reception offices are operating in the region as part of the nationwide “Soldier’s Fate” project. Residents are being assisted in establishing the fates of relatives who were killed or went missing during the Great Patriotic War.

Volunteers and representatives of local self-government bodies will present targeted gifts to WWII veterans and home front workers and assist with everyday issues. As part of the “We Are Together” campaign, humanitarian aid is being collected for servicemen, and congratulatory cards and letters are being sent. Concerts will be held in military hospitals.

The Krasnodar Musical Theatre will hold a major holiday concert on February 23 at 5:00 PM. The program will feature the ensemble “Krinitsa,” the State Kuban Brass Band, soloists from the Yuri Grigorovich Ballet Theatre, a symphony orchestra, and musical theatre artists.

Museums have prepared tours and thematic exhibitions of books, photographs, posters, paintings, awards, and samples of weapons and equipment. Starting February 19, the exhibition “Hero of Our Time” is on display at the Krasnodar Art Museum. Admission to the exhibition is free.

Educational institutions will host lessons in courage, while sports facilities will hold competitions and championships.

Official information

Krasnodar

Krasnodar is a major city in southern Russia, founded in 1793 by Catherine the Great as a fortress called Yekaterinodar to guard the empire’s southern borders. It served as the historical and cultural center of the Kuban Cossacks before being renamed Krasnodar (“Red Gift”) in 1920 following the Russian Revolution. Today, it is a vibrant administrative and economic hub for the fertile Kuban region.

Kuban

Kuban is a historical and geographical region in southern Russia, centered around the Kuban River and encompassing the Krasnodar Krai area. Historically, it was a contested frontier, inhabited by Circassians and later becoming a major Cossack host territory after being incorporated into the Russian Empire in the late 18th century. Today, it is known as a fertile agricultural area and a popular tourist destination for its Black Sea resorts.

Great Patriotic War

The “Great Patriotic War” refers to the period of World War II (1941–1945) fought between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. It is a central historical and cultural concept in Russia and other post-Soviet states, commemorating immense sacrifice and victory. The memory is preserved through numerous memorials, museums like those on Moscow’s Poklonnaya Hill, and the annual Victory Day celebrations on May 9th.

Krasnodar Musical Theatre

The Krasnodar Musical Theatre is a major cultural institution in southern Russia, originally founded in 1993. It is housed in a modern, purpose-built venue that opened in 2015, designed to host large-scale musicals, operettas, and ballets. The theatre has become a prominent center for musical arts in the region, known for its diverse repertoire of both Russian and international productions.

Krinitsa

“Krinitsa” is a common Slavic toponym meaning “spring” or “water source,” often referring to a natural spring considered sacred in folk tradition. Historically, such sites were frequently associated with pre-Christian Slavic paganism as places of worship and later were Christianized, often having chapels or crosses built near them. Today, many “Krinitsa” locations remain as local landmarks, cultural symbols of purity, and sites of annual religious ceremonies or festivals.

State Kuban Brass Band

The State Kuban Brass Band is a renowned Russian musical ensemble founded in 1937 in Krasnodar, Russia. It is celebrated for its performances of traditional Cossack and Russian folk music, as well as classical and military repertoire, and has played a significant role in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Kuban region.

Yuri Grigorovich Ballet Theatre

The Yuri Grigorovich Ballet Theatre is a major Russian ballet company based at the Krasnodar State Theatre of Ballet and Opera, founded in 1996. It was established by the legendary choreographer Yuri Grigorovich, who previously led the Bolshoi Ballet for three decades, to serve as a new creative platform. The theatre is renowned for staging Grigorovich’s iconic productions, such as *Spartacus* and *The Nutcracker*, preserving and promoting his influential classical and dramatic style.

Krasnodar Art Museum

The Krasnodar Art Museum, originally founded in 1959 as the Krasnodar Regional Art Museum, is housed in a historic 1910 mansion built for the merchant Shardanov. Its core collection was formed from nationalized private art collections after the Russian Revolution, and it now holds over 13,000 works, specializing in Russian art from the 16th century to the present day. It is considered the leading fine arts institution in southern Russia.