Stalingrad Returns to Russia’s Civil Aviation Map as Volgograd Airport Renamed Ahead of Victory Day

Moscow: In the run-up to Victory Day on May 9, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany, the Russian government restored the original name, Stalingrad, for the Voglograd International Airport. The decision was confirmed following Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Volgograd, where war veterans urged the revival of the airport’s original name.
Victory Day commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, and the renaming is seen as a tribute to one of the war’s most decisive battles—the Battle of Stalingrad. Fought along the Volga River, the 1942–43 battle ended with the Soviet Army’s victory over German and Axis forces on February 2, 1943, marking a major turning point in the war.
Stalingrad, a name once synonymous with Soviet resistance and resilience, was changed to Volgograd in 1961 as part of then-Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s de-Stalinisation campaign. Despite numerous efforts over the years by local leaders to restore the historic name, the Kremlin had previously refrained, wary of the political implications tied to former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s legacy.
However, in a swift response to the veterans’ appeal, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin issued an official order on Wednesday renaming the airport to Stalingrad. President Putin had been attending a forum alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko when the request was made.
The move underscores the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to evoke Soviet-era pride and patriotism, especially during national commemorations like Victory Day.