Putin Renames Volgograd Airport to Stalingrad Amid WWII Commemorations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree renaming Volgograd International Airport to Stalingrad, the city's former Soviet-era name, following requests from World War II veterans and participants in the war against Ukraine. The move is intended to commemorate the Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II, a key moment in the defeat of Nazi Germany. The renaming comes as Russia prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, with Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko attending commemorations in Volgograd. Critics note that the decision reflects a broader trend under Putin's leadership to rehabilitate Stalin's legacy, despite the dictator's brutal regime. For many Russians, the name Stalingrad symbolizes both immense wartime sacrifice and the darker aspects of Stalin's rule. Ukraine and other critics argue that Russia is attempting to reinterpret Soviet victories as solely Russian achievements, and they reject the use of historical parallels to justify the current war in Ukraine.