Day of the Unknown Soldier in Russia Date in the current year: December 3, 2024

After the 1941 Battle of Moscow, the remains of the unknown soldiers killed in the battle were buried in a mass grave near the city of Zelenograd. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the battle, they were relocated to the Alexander Garden in Moscow and buried at the Kremlin Wall. The ceremonial reburial was held on December 3, 1966. In 1967, a war memorial named the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was unveiled to the public.

On October 24, 2014, the State Duma of the Russian Federation declared the anniversary of the reburial of the remains of unknown soldiers an official memorial day named Day of the Unknown Soldier. On November 5 of the same year, the Russian president signed a decree to make it official.

Although Day of the Unknown Soldier is primarily dedicated to soldiers killed during the Second World War, it honors the memory of all Russian soldiers who died or went missing during wars and military conflicts. The day is marked with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden and commemorative ceremonies at monuments to the unknown soldier in various cities and towns throughout Russia.