One of the many jarring aspects of the pobedobesie (victory-mania) as Russia marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany every year is the commercialization — in particular, street vendors hawking tat to make a profit off the sacrifice of Soviet soldiers and civilians. Jarring, but also fitting. For this is the way war is remembered, and fought, in Russia today. Recruitment ads calling men to sign up to fight in Ukraine may be headed “For the Motherland, for Stalingrad,” but the small print explains it is also for the money.
