To observe the Defender of the Fatherland Day, the Embassy of the Russian Federation hosted a commemorating function on Feb. 21st, 2013 at the Seoul Millennium Hilton while members of The Seoul Diplomatic Corps, and many Russians in Seoul attended it. Amb. Konstantin V. Vnukov of Russia & Mme. Yulia B. Vnukova, Col. Pavel G. Anisov and Lt. Col. Sergey N. Shcherbakov welcomed guests warmly.

From the Seoul Diplomatic Corps., dean Vitali V. Fen (Amb. of Uzbekistan), Amb. Slobodan Marinkovic of Serbia, Amb. Dusan Bella of Slovakia and Amb. Tomasz Kozlowski of the European Union Delegation joined it.
Through his welcoming remarks, Amb. Vnukov said: “This is a special day for the Armed Forces of Russia. And it is a special day for the whole people of Russia too. As every Russian, even if he is of the most civilian trade, viz, a worker or a farmer, a scientist or a diplomat, views himself a defender of the Fatherland”.
Today the Armed Forces of Russia employ the most modern weapons. But Russia neither threatens anyone with nuclear or missile strikes nor sends her soldiers overseas to bully anyone. We are prepared to interact with all states to protect the world from old and now challenges like proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism, transborder organized crime and narcotraffic, he added. After the speech of the Ambassador, there were congratulatory performances by Russian students in Seoul etc.

Defender of the Fatherland Day is a popular Russian holiday on February 23, although the date itself has no major historical significance in Russia. The day focuses on the achievements of military forces and veterans. Russian men who have never served in the military are also congratulated and receive presents on this day.
Defender of the Fatherland Day remembers both current and past achievements of many Russians including Red Army leader Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, according to the Embassy of the Russian Federation. Many Russians observe February 23 as men’s day because military service is obligatory for most men in Russia. Women often give presents and postcards to their male relatives, including those who never served in the military. On a workday before or after the holiday, many women also congratulate their male colleagues and schoolboys may receive small presents from their female classmates.

The reasons behind celebrating Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23 are unclear, as the date does not coincide with any historical event. Russia first celebrated this day in 1922 as the fourth anniversary of the Red Army. However, Russian leader Vladimir Lenin signed a decree for the creation of a Bolshevik Army on a different date (January 15, 1918). In 1938, Soviet history books started claiming that the Red Army won an important victory over German invaders on February 23, 1918, but no independent sources supported this claim. The Russian Parliament voted to remove it from the holiday’s history in 2006. Between 1936 and 1990, February 23 was observed as the Soviet Army and Navy Day. It became a workday in 1991. The Russian parliament reintroduced it as a public holiday in 2002, after renaming it as Defender of the Fatherland Day.