Defender of the Fatherland Day
| Defender of the Fatherland Day | |
|---|---|
Wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, 23 February 2008 | |
| Observed by | Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan |
| Significance | Celebrates the armed forces and commemorates the founding of the Red Army |
| Observances | Wreath laying ceremonies, concerts, parades |
| Date | 23 February |
| Next time | 23 February 2026 |
| Frequency | Annual |
Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russian: День защитника Отечества Den' zashchitnika Otechestva; Kazakh: Отан қорғаушы күні, romanized: Otan qorğauşy künı; Tajik: Рӯзи Дорандаи Ватан, romanized: Rūzi Dorandai Vatan; Kyrgyz: Мекенди коргоочулардын күнү, romanized: Mekendi korgoochulardyn künü; Belarusian: Дзень абаронцы Айчыны, romanized: Dzeń abaroncy Ajčyny) is a holiday observed in Russia, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. It is celebrated on 23 February, except in Kazakhstan, where it is celebrated on 7 May. Ukraine abolished the holiday starting 1992 and, after the Revolution of Dignity, has instated the somewhat similar Defender of Ukraine Day on 1 October.