Russian, Ukrainian Veterans Remain Friends Despite Political Tensions

Russian World War II veteran Vasily Samokhin says that political tensions between Russia and Ukraine did not distort friendship between their war veterans.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Political tensions between Russia and Ukraine did not distort friendship between their war veterans, Russian World War II veteran Vasily Samokhin told Sputnik.

“I used to have and still have many Ukrainian friends,” Samokhin said on Thursday. “We served together in the Navy.”

Samokhin was one of the participants of the celebrations at the Russian Cultural Center in Washington, DC devoted to the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazism-Fascism in the Second World War.

Relations between Moscow and Kiev deteriorated in 2014 following Crimea's reunification with Russia and the beginning of a military conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The World War II veteran expressed regret about current political tensions between the two countries.

“Usually, it is certain people or a small group of people that starts a feud,” Samokhin said. “Regular people don’t want it to happen.”

The veteran noted that relations with the United States in the past used to be good too.

“We considered each other the closest of friends,” he said.

On May 9, 2015, Russia will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II in Moscow. At least 25 states have accepted invitations to attend the Victory Day events, and a full list of participants will be announced by the end of April.