Meeting of Soviet Victory Soldiers at Rzhevsky Railway Station, Moscow, July 17, 1945

August 16, 2025 - Reading time: 5 minutes

Soviet soldiers returning from the European front are welcomed with hugs and celebration at Rzhevsky Railway Station, Moscow, July 17, 1945.

Soviet soldiers returning from victory in Europe are embraced by Russian civilians at Rzhevsky Railway Station in Moscow on July 17, 1945, celebrating the end of World War II in Europe.

This evocative photograph captures the heartfelt reunion of Soviet soldiers with their fellow citizens at Rzhevsky Railway Station (now Rizhsky) in Moscow on July 17, 1945. These soldiers had returned from the victorious campaigns in Europe following the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II on the continent.

In the foreground, Russian women embrace Private Alexey Alekseevich Lisenkov, a medic from Evacuation Hospital No. 264 and former commander of a reconnaissance squad of the 434th Separate Anti-Tank Battalion of the 319th Rifle Division. The image conveys both relief and jubilation, as families and comrades welcome home the heroes who had risked everything to secure victory.

This scene is a powerful testament to the emotional weight of the post-war period, capturing a nation reconnecting with those who had endured the horrors of battle and emerged victorious. The photograph stands as a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Soviet soldiers and the joy of a homeland reunited after years of conflict.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: 1. victory.rusarchives.ru

2. pamyat-naroda.ru

3. Журнал "Огонёк" №31 (950) от 05.08.1945 г.
📍 Location: Moscow, USSR
📅 Date of photo: July 17, 1945
📷 Photographer: Nikolay Sitnikov