Defender of the Fatherland Day
In Russia, the День защитника Отечества / Dyen' zaschitnika Otechestva (English: "Defender of the Fatherland Day") is celebrated on 23 February, honoring all those serving in the Russian Armed Forces. In the Soviet Union there was День Советской Армии / Dyen' Sovetskoy Armii ("Day of the Soviet Army"), celebrated on the same date. It is the very day of the anniversary since the formation of the modern armed forces of the Soviet Union in 1918, the traditions of which are continued by the current Russian Armed Forces, in conjunction with the heritage of its Imperial past.