Ambassador's Congratulatory Message on the Adwa Victory Day

Russia says Adwa victory day rejuvenates Africans’ pride

The victory of Adwa is an event of utter importance in the memory of both Ethiopia and all of Africa, so remarked Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia.

In a congratulatory message sent to The Ethiopian Herald, Amb. Evgeny Terekhin said the victory is more than a military triumph. “It is a demonstration of the great strength of mind, national freedom loving character, will and what a people can achieve, standing united.”

He further noted that The Battle of Adwa is an outstanding example of the bravery, courage, strength, and unity of the Ethiopian people, which cast doubt on the invincibility of European armies.

“It has served as a source of encouragement and a lodestar for all African peoples in the struggle for their independence from the yoke of colonialism.”

The Battle of Adwa may justly be called one of the milestones in the history of Russian-Ethiopian relations, Ambassador Terekhin said adding the army of Menelik II included a group of Russian volunteers led by the Ethiopian Emperor’s counselor Nikolai Leontiev. 

He further recalled that a supply of Russian weapons was organized to help the Ethiopian army and a Russian Red Cross mission also arrived in the country helping thousands of Ethiopian war heroes wounded in the battle. 

In 1898, two years later, diplomatic relations were established between Russia and Ethiopia. The Embassy has commemorated the 125th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries last week.