Published on: 2026-11-05
Source: Russian University of Peoples’ Friendship – Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On November 4, Russia celebrates National Unity Day. And for the multinational community of RUDN, it is also a reminder of the value of mutual respect and cooperation. Semyon Zolotukhin, assistant of the Department of Russian History, talks about the events that lie at the foundation of the holiday and why they are so important for the country.
Day of National Unity reminds of the events of 1612, when the people’s militia liberated Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian garrison. And today we remember not only the famous leaders but also everyone who fought, helped, and supported the militia. The victory was the result of their joint efforts.
The memory of this victory is inseparable from the names Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky. However, the story of the Second Militia is primarily the story of the people who took responsibility for the fate of their Motherland.
By the beginning of the 17th century, the Russian state was going through a severe crisis. The struggle for the throne was accompanied by imposture, uprisings, and foreign intervention. A Polish-Lithuanian garrison was stationed in the Moscow Kremlin and Kitay-gorod, Smolensk was captured after a long siege, and Novgorod was occupied by Swedish troops. The first militia, led by Prokopy Lyapunov In 1611, they failed to liberate the capital due to internal disagreements. The political split weakened the resistance.
However, in the autumn of 1611, a new movement arose in Nizhny Novgorod. Its initiator was the zemstvo elder Kuzma Minin — a town official without a high title or his own army. He called on the townspeople to raise funds for creating a military force. Some donated money and property voluntarily, others participated in levies established by common agreement. The warriors needed weapons, provisions, and pay.
The military leadership of the people of Nizhny Novgorod was proposed to the prince To Dmitry Pozharsky. He had already participated in battles against the invaders and was wounded during the Moscow uprising in the spring of 1611. Minin was in charge of supplies, while Pozharsky handled the training and military operations. The alliance between the representative of the townspeople and the prince-voivode became one of the most vivid images of the Time of Troubles. People of different origins were united by a common goal.
The Second Militia was never the affair of a single city. It was joined by nobles and musketeers, Cossacks, service Tatars, residents of towns and districts of the Volga region, the North, and other lands. Not everyone took up arms. Some collected funds, delivered supplies, repaired equipment, and helped the families of the fighters. Many names of the participants were not preserved in the chronicles.
In the spring of 1612, the militia arrived in Yaroslavl and stayed there for several months. During this time, they managed to reinforce the army and create the “Council of the Whole Land” — an authority that acted as a temporary government in the territories recognizing the leadership of the militia. The militiamen not only prepared for the campaign but also tried to restore order where regular state institutions had ceased to function.
In the summer, the army moved toward Moscow. In August, acting together with the forces that remained near the capital, the militia repelled the attempt by Hetman Jan Karol Chodkiewicz to break through to the besieged garrison with reinforcements and supplies. The victory became a decisive step toward the liberation of the city. October 22, 1612 According to the Julian calendar in effect at that time, Kitai-gorod was taken, and a few days later the Polish garrison of the Kremlin surrendered.
The liberation of Moscow did not end the Time of Troubles instantly. The country still needed to restore government bodies, elect a tsar at the 1613 Zemsky Sobor, and overcome the consequences of years of devastation. But the events of 1612 showed that even amidst social division, consolidation for a common future was possible.
In In 2026, announced The year of unity of the peoples of Russia, the meaning of this historical memory sounds especially clear. Unity does not mean the absence of differences. The peoples, cultures, traditions, and life experiences of the inhabitants of our country are diverse. The history of the Second Militia reminds us that shared responsibility and the ability to act together can be stronger than disagreements.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.