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Russia on Tuesday marked the anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two with a Red Square parade amid tight security in the wake of a series of drone attacks, including on the Kremlin itself, that Moscow blamed on Ukraine.
Victory Day is one of the most important public holidays in Russia, when people commemorate the huge sacrifices made by the Soviet Union during the so-called Great Patriotic War between 1941 and 1945, which claimed the lives of about 27 million citizens.
The emotional memory is heightened as Russia mourns the thousands of soldiers killed in the nearly 15-month war in Ukraine that shows no signs of ending.
Russia is also suffering from drone attacks, including an attack on the Kremlin on May 3 that it said was an attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine, which is soon expected to launch a counter-offensive to retake the territory, denies any role.
Putin has repeatedly likened the Ukraine war – which he described as a battle against “Nazi” inspired nationalists – to the challenge the Soviet Union faced when Hitler invaded in 1941.
Kyiv He says this is absurd and accuses Russia of behaving like Nazi Germany by waging an unprovoked war of aggression and seizing Ukrainian lands.
Putin, his defense minister and other senior officials are expected to review the Red Square parade, which usually includes tanks, intercontinental missile launchers and marching troops.
However, reflecting the growing security concerns stemming in part from the drone attacks, the authorities canceled the traditional flyover. There have also been reports of fewer soldiers and less military hardware joining this year’s parade because the conflict in Ukraine is taking a heavy toll in men and equipment.
Authorities across the country have canceled “Immortal Regiment” processions, where people hold up pictures of their relatives who fought against the Nazis.
sacred borders
Putin will deliver a speech in Red Square, where he will be joined by the leaders of several former Soviet republics. In his speech last year, he made no mention of Ukraine, but criticized the NATO military alliance for extending it into Russia’s borders and praised Soviet heroism in resisting Hitler.
Since then, Finland – which borders Russia – has joined NATO.
“No one may once again encroach on the sacred borders of our Fatherland,” Patriarch Kirill, head of the powerful Russian Orthodox Church and a close ally of Putin, said as he laid flowers Monday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Moscow.
“But for this to be so, our country must be strong because the country that is feared is not attacked.”
Asked on Monday about the cancellation of some D-Day events, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed Ukraine, saying: “When we have to deal with a state that is a de facto sponsor of terrorism, it is better to take precautionary measures.”
In addition to the attack on the Kremlin complex, Moscow also blames Ukraine for drone strikes over the past week on fuel depots, freight trains and multiple targets in Crimea, which Russia annexed by force from Ukraine in 2014.
Moscow has also accused Kiev and the West of carrying out a car bombing on Saturday that wounded prominent Russian nationalist writer Zakhar Prilepin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky upset Russia on Monday when he conveyed the May 8 day that his country marks the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, aligning itself with Western countries in rejection of its Soviet past.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called Zelensky a “traitor”, saying he had betrayed the memory of Ukrainians who died fighting the Nazis.
Victory Day is one of the most important public holidays in Russia, when people commemorate the huge sacrifices made by the Soviet Union during the so-called Great Patriotic War between 1941 and 1945, which claimed the lives of about 27 million citizens.
The emotional memory is heightened as Russia mourns the thousands of soldiers killed in the nearly 15-month war in Ukraine that shows no signs of ending.
Russia is also suffering from drone attacks, including an attack on the Kremlin on May 3 that it said was an attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine, which is soon expected to launch a counter-offensive to retake the territory, denies any role.
Putin has repeatedly likened the Ukraine war – which he described as a battle against “Nazi” inspired nationalists – to the challenge the Soviet Union faced when Hitler invaded in 1941.
Kyiv He says this is absurd and accuses Russia of behaving like Nazi Germany by waging an unprovoked war of aggression and seizing Ukrainian lands.
Putin, his defense minister and other senior officials are expected to review the Red Square parade, which usually includes tanks, intercontinental missile launchers and marching troops.
However, reflecting the growing security concerns stemming in part from the drone attacks, the authorities canceled the traditional flyover. There have also been reports of fewer soldiers and less military hardware joining this year’s parade because the conflict in Ukraine is taking a heavy toll in men and equipment.
Authorities across the country have canceled “Immortal Regiment” processions, where people hold up pictures of their relatives who fought against the Nazis.
sacred borders
Putin will deliver a speech in Red Square, where he will be joined by the leaders of several former Soviet republics. In his speech last year, he made no mention of Ukraine, but criticized the NATO military alliance for extending it into Russia’s borders and praised Soviet heroism in resisting Hitler.
Since then, Finland – which borders Russia – has joined NATO.
“No one may once again encroach on the sacred borders of our Fatherland,” Patriarch Kirill, head of the powerful Russian Orthodox Church and a close ally of Putin, said as he laid flowers Monday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Moscow.
“But for this to be so, our country must be strong because the country that is feared is not attacked.”
Asked on Monday about the cancellation of some D-Day events, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed Ukraine, saying: “When we have to deal with a state that is a de facto sponsor of terrorism, it is better to take precautionary measures.”
In addition to the attack on the Kremlin complex, Moscow also blames Ukraine for drone strikes over the past week on fuel depots, freight trains and multiple targets in Crimea, which Russia annexed by force from Ukraine in 2014.
Moscow has also accused Kiev and the West of carrying out a car bombing on Saturday that wounded prominent Russian nationalist writer Zakhar Prilepin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky upset Russia on Monday when he conveyed the May 8 day that his country marks the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, aligning itself with Western countries in rejection of its Soviet past.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called Zelensky a “traitor”, saying he had betrayed the memory of Ukrainians who died fighting the Nazis.
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