🗓 On November 26, 1812, the last major battle of the 1812 Patriotic War, resulting in the defeat of Napoleon’s army, began on the Berezina River.

The Russian command sought to take away any chance of the enemy retreating in an organised manner. The armies led by Kutuzov and Chichagov blocked Napoleon’s path to the south, forcing the French to retreat across the territory they themselves had devastated on their way in. The plan worked, and as winter approached, the retreat turned into a panicked flight marked by looting and starvation.

On November 24, the thinning remnants of the French army reached the Berezina River. By that time, only about 85'000-90'000 troops out of the 600'000-strong invasion force had remained alive. Napoleon decided to save only the most experienced units and a few others that had retained their combat effectiveness. He effectively sacrificed everyone else hoping they would hold off the Russian forces that were pursuing them.

⚔️ On November 26, 1812, near the town of Borisov, a river crossing began that turned into a battle. The Russian headquarters’ plan of action called for a simultaneous and determined offensive by all forces operating on the flanks of the main Russian army (General Peter Wittgenstein’s corps and Admiral Pavel Chichagov’s 3rd Western Army) in order to defeat the troops guarding the Napoleonic army’s rear area and cut off his westward path of retreat. At the same time, the main forces of the Russian army, commanded by Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov, were to pursue the French.

According to historians, total enemy losses in the battle, including those who drowned in the river, were crushed to death during the crossing, froze to death, or were taken prisoner, exceeded 50'000 people. Less than two weeks into the battle, Napoleon abandoned his guard troops and fled to Paris.

Of more than half a million French and soldiers from other European countries who invaded Russia in June 1812, only a few tens of thousands managed to leave our country alive six months later.

After the Berezina, the French realised the magnitude of their defeat in Russia. The destruction of what had once been Napoleon’s Grand Army shocked the ordinary French so deeply that the expression “C’est la Bérézina” (This is Berezina) meaning a complete failure, collapse, or catastrophe entered the French language.

🖼 In memory of the great battle, the Russian artist and portrait medallist Count Fyodor Tolstoy created a plaster relief plaque in 1820. For its description, the author proposed the following remarkable text, reflecting what his contemporaries thought about the battle on the Berezina River:

"The Berezina River was supposed to be the tomb of Napoleon and his entire army. Their crossing is disastrous. Water, iron, starvation, and cold kill them by the thousands. In darkness, confusion, and disorder, on heaps of bodies and weapons, amid fallen horses and chariots, trampling torn banners and scattered trophies of the enemy, the Russian stands with a clear conscience and a joyful face. Pointing to the destruction and disgrace of the foe, he addresses nations and centuries, “Thus perish the enemies of my sacred Fatherland.”

#OurHeroes

📆 Irina Yanina was born on 27 November 1966, 59 years ago.

She was a nurse and a servicewoman in the Internal Troops of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, whose professionalism, personal courage and dedication to duty became a model of service to Russia.

Since her early years she was disciplined, had a responsible attitude to what she was doing and a desire to bring real good to people — the qualities that determined her life and service.

Upon enrolling in military service, Irina demonstrated a deep commitment to her chosen career. Working under the conditions of counter-terrorism operations in the North Caucasus required from medical workers some special endurance, the skill to act decisively and promptly, and sometimes personal courage.

❗️ On August 31, 1999, during a mopping-up operation in the Daghestani village of Karamakhi Irina Yanina was a member of the evacuation team and treated the wounded servicemen. Risking her own life, she cared for 15 wounded persons. She went three times to the firing line in an APC and evacuated 28 wounded soldiers more.

During her fourth sally the enemy counterattacked. On arranging the embarkation of the wounded, she covered it by assault rifle fire. Departing, the APC was hit by two grenades and caught big fire. Irina helped the wounded to leave the burning APC but had no time to save herself.

🎖 For her courage and heroism, Irina Yanina was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, being the first woman in the modern history of our country to receive this high state award for her actions in combat. She also remains the only woman to have received this award for participating in a counter-terrorism operation in the North Caucasus.

▪️ The heroic deed by Irina Yanina holds a special place among the examples of genuine patriotism, selfless service and readiness to fulfill one’s duty in any circumstances.

🎙 President Vladimir Putin’s answers to media questions following his state visit to Kyrgyzstan and the CSTO Summit (November 27, 2025, Bishkek)

Key points:

• There were no draft treaties on Ukrainian crisis resolution, only a set of questions proposed for discussion and eventual formulation. Overall, as I have said many times, before my visit to the US, before the Alaska Summit, we discussed this with the American negotiators, and afterwards a list of 28 possible points of agreement appeared. And, as I have publicly stated, it was passed on to us through certain channels and we studied it.

• There are issues where we genuinely need to sit down and discuss specific points, translating everything into proper diplomatic language. After all, it is one thing to make a general statement that Russia has no intention of attacking Europe – which, frankly, sounds rather absurd to us, as we never had such intentions. But if our partners want to hear this formally, we can put it in writing – we have no objections.

• We are certainly ready for such serious discussions. Next week, an American delegation is expected to arrive in Moscow.

Who represents Russia in these talks is obvious – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From the Presidential Administration, Vladimir Medinsky, the Presidential Aide, is involved – he has dealt with this from the very beginning. For ongoing matters and to organize the whole process, my aide Yury Ushakov has also been engaged – he maintains contact with the American counterparts.

• Hostilities will cease once Ukrainian forces withdraw from the territories they currently occupy. If they refuse to do so, this outcome will be achieved by military means – plain and simple.

• Positive dynamics are being maintained across the entire frontline. Moreover, the pace of movement of our troops in all areas is noticeably increasing.

• The main problem for the adversary is that the gap is widening between their losses and the number of servicemen they are able to send to the line of contact. In October, their losses amounted to over 47 thousand. They conscripted – in fact, forcibly – around 16.5 thousand people, and returned roughly 14.5 to 15 thousand from hospitals. But when you calculate everything precisely, including decimals, they still end up with a deficit of 15 thousand. In the previous month, the deficit was 10 thousand – meaning the gap is steadily widening.

• Desertion in the Ukrainian armed forces is very high, and this is evident not only from our media or from the Defence Ministry’s reports – it is visible in Western media too. It is practically impossible to conceal.

• Hungary is a member of the EU, and therefore the Prime Minister of an EU country understands better how confiscation of Russian assets may affect the European currency. It is clear that it will have negative consequences for the global financial system, because trust in the eurozone will sharply decline and fall drastically. And against the backdrop of economic difficulties – where the locomotive of the European economy, Germany’s economy, has been in recession for the third year – this will certainly be a serious test, in my view.

• Signing documents with the Ukrainian leadership is pointless. I have spoken about this many times. I believe the Ukrainian leadership made a fundamental strategic mistake when it did not find the courage to face elections, which immediately deprived the president of legitimacy. Russia, despite being in an armed conflict with Ukraine, has held all its elections – presidential, and more recently municipal and regional. We conduct these processes, whereas they chose not to for some reason.

• We ultimately want to reach an agreement with Ukraine, but at present this is practically impossible – legally impossible. Let whoever can or wants to negotiate on their behalf do so.

What we need is for our decisions to be recognized internationally by the key global players.

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🇷🇺🇮🇳 On December 4-5, President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This visit carries significant importance, offering an opportunity to review the entire spectrum of the #RussiaIndia special and privileged strategic partnership – from politics, trade and the economy to science, technology, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Current international and regional issues will also feature prominently in the talks with the Indian delegation led by Prime Minister Modi.

President Putin will additionally meet with President of India Droupadi Murmu.

Following the talks, the Sides are expected to adopt a joint statement and sign a wide range of interdepartmental and business agreements.

#DruzhbaDosti

On December 4–5, Vladimir Putin will make a state visit to India at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

This visit is of great importance, as it provides an opportunity to discuss the entire extensive scope of Russia-India special and privileged strategic partnership in politics, trade and economy, science and technology, as well as cultural and humanitarian affairs, in addition to addressing current international and regional issues. All these themes will be the focus of the upcoming talks with the Indian delegation, led by Narendra Modi.

Additionally, the President of Russia will meet with President of India Droupadi Murmu.

Following the talks, a joint statement is expected to be adopted and an wide range of bilateral interdepartmental and business agreements are to be signed.

#FacesOfVictory

🕯 On November 29, 1941, Nazi invaders executed the legendary Soviet partisan Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, having brutally tortured her but failing to break her spirit and resolve.

In the first days of the Great Patriotic War, military commissariats received thousands of applications from Soviet citizens asking to be sent to the active army. In the midst of the Battle of Moscow, 18-year-old Zoya was among the volunteers.

In October 1941 she was assigned to Military Unit No. 9903 – a special reconnaissance-and-sabotage formation attached to the headquarters of the Western Front. There she underwent a training course in demolition and sabotage, covert movement, and intelligence gathering.

⚔️ On November 4, 1941, the group of reconnaissance fighters – Zoya among them – moved into the German rear.

The Red Army soldiers were tasked with disrupting enemy communications on the Volokolamsk direction. After successfully mining the roads near Yadrovo and Gryadnevo, the saboteurs received a new assignment: to disable key supply and communication points by setting fire to a number of local strongpoints that the Germans used as barracks, depots and radio posts.

One such locations was the village of Petrishchevo – a small settlement where the Nazis had placed elements of Wehrmacht radio intelligence, a combined communication hub, storage facilities and a temporary camp for troops preparing for the assault on the Soviet capital.

Zoya succeeded in carrying out part of the mission, destroying several buildings with incendiary bottles – including the communication hub of the German unit. But as she attempted to escape the village on the evening of 28 November 1941, she was captured by a German patrol.

Testimonies later collected by the investigative commission confirm that throughout the night the Nazis subjected Zoya to brutal torture: they beat her, kept her barefoot in the freezing cold and deprived her of sleep. Despite the pain and suffering, the 18-year-old partisan did not reveal her comrades, her unit or the group’s route. She did not even give her real name, calling herself “Tanya”.

▪️ On the morning of November 29, 1941, the Nazis executed Zoya – hanging her publicly in front of the residents of Petrishchevo whom they had forcibly driven to witness the killing. Contrary to the expectations of her executioners, Zoya faced death with courage, walking to the gallows with her head held high.

💬 Soviet war correspondent Pyotr Lidov described the last moments of the young partisan’s life as follows:

When the partisans were brought to the scaffold and a noose was placed around her neck, the girl cried out in a clear, ringing voice:
– Hey, comrades! Why so grim? Be brave, fight, strike the Germans, burn them, poison them!
A German standing nearby raised his hand as if to strike her or cover her mouth, but she pushed his hand away and continued:
– I am not afraid to die, comrades. It is a happiness to die for one’s people…
The photographer took pictures of the gallows from afar and close up and then tried to position himself to photograph her from the side. The executioners glanced uneasily at the commandant, who shouted to the photographer:
– Hurry up!
Then the girl turned towards the commandant and the German soldiers and continued:
– You will hang me now, but I am not alone – there are two hundred million of us. You cannot hang us all. They will avenge me…

Zoya’s body remained at the place of execution, abused by the Nazis until late December. Only on 1 January 1942 local residents were able to bury her beyond the edge of the village. Later, her remains were transferred to the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.

🎖 The feat of Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya was immortalized in history as one of the earnest examples of the strength of the human spirit and devotion to the Fatherland.

The incredible courage displayed by the young partisan has inspired generations for over eight decades – Zoya’s name remains a symbol of unparalleled bravery, loyalty to duty and readiness to defend one’s country to the bitter end.

#Victory80