The Day of Remembrance and Sorrow (Russian: День памяти и скорби) is a memorable date celebrated annually on 22 June in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. It honors the anniversary of Operation Barbarossa, the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. On 13 June. the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Russia declared that 22 June should be marked as the Remembrance Day for Defenders of the Fatherland.[1] It was established by decree of President of Russia Boris Yeltsin on 8 June 1996.