Vladimir Putin made a speech of chest beating to troops today during Moscow’s Victory Day parade. He told them that they were now fighting for national security against the West’s plans to invade.
In an attempt to reframe his conflict in Ukraine as a war with Russia and the West, he claimed NATO was the aggressor. Also, he stated that he tried to resolve the situation through a special military operation’ against a neo Nazi regime in Kyiv.
Additionally, he sought to distort the truth about what’s happening in Ukraine. He hails a day for ‘great victories’ in spite of Russia’s losses on the battlefield. And he tells his soldiers that they’re fighting a fair war despite all the evidence of war crimes committed in occupied territory.
‘Everything pointed to a clash against the neo Nazis, the Banderites [Ukrainian Nazi sympathisers]He stated that the United States, along with their junior partners, had backed him.
We saw an increasing military infrastructure and hundreds of military advisers, as well regular NATO delivery of modern weapons. Every day, the danger was growing. Russia stopped the aggressor. It was needed, appropriate and…right. A sovereign, independent and strong country made the decision.
Russian troops are in Donbas fighting on ‘their territory’, he stated, propagating his warped world view that Ukraine isn’t a real country, and Ukrainians are Russians who are waiting to be reintegrated back into their motherland.
However, he did not reach the end of what many had feared. He failed to declare war on Kyiv. That would have given him permission to mobilise Russia’s military reserves as well as conscript civilians for an increase in fighting at the border.
This year’s parade featured a much smaller scale than previous years. The ‘Doomsday plane’ that allowed him to keep Russia in power in case of a nuclear explosion was scrapped by the Russian government at last-minute. But, light cloud and rumours in Moscow suggest it may have been due to concerns about sabotage.
Due to Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, almost three times as many vehicles were paraded in 2020 than they did in previous years.
Vladimir Putin, who congratulated the troops for a “day of great victories” as he spoke at a Victory Day Parade in Moscow today and twisted the truth about what’s happening in Ukraine on the ground, praised his troops.
Russia’s surrender in 1945 was marked by thousands of Russian troops forming up on the Red Square. This marks the end to the Second World War.
Putin used his speech as an opportunity to redefine the conflict in Ukraine and to tell his troops that Russia is fighting them for their security against plans to invade.
The Soviet-era motorbike was driven by Second World War soldiers and is adorned with the Ukraine Z symbol.
Putin looks on as Putin observes a smaller military parade at Moscow’s Red Square. A fly-past of the air force was cancelled Monday due to poor weather conditions in Moscow.
A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile – though to be the RS-24 Yars capable of carrying up to 10 warheads – drives through the Red Square during Victory Day celebrations
Russian T-72B3M tanks take part in a downsized military parade through Moscow’s Red Square as part of Victory Day events in Moscow, commemorating Soviet victory over Nazi Germany
A T-34 tank, which was the main battle vehicle of the Soviet military in the Second World War and flies a Soviet Banner as it moves through Moscow’s Red Square during Victory Day festivities.
Russian armoured trucks move along the Red Square in a Victory Day parade. This is thought to have been reduced because Russia lost so much of its army there.
During the Victory Day parade, Russian soldiers march onto Red Square in Moscow
Russian soldiers riding on top of armoured vehicles salute to a platform in Moscow where Vladimir Putin was seated during Victory Day celebrations today
Russian paratroopers were in conflict with Ukraine and drove BTR-MDM armored personnel carriers in military parades on Victory Day
Vladimir Putin (Russian President) shakes hands today with a veteran in Moscow during Victory Day celebrations
After a parade of military personnel on Victory Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Sergei Shoigu (Defense Minister) walk with Chief of Russian Land Forces Oleg Slyukov.
Russian officers march by Moscow Red Square during Victory Day ceremonies in Russia. These commemorations were held Monday.
Putin didn’t declare war against Ukraine. Many had been worried about this move, which might have led Russia to mobilize its military forces and escalate the fighting.
Russian commanders, hundreds of which have been killed in the fighting in Ukraine, march through Moscow’s Red Square in a scaled down event to celebrate Victory Day
Russia troops with medals on their chests, in the orange-black of Saint George’s ribbon (the highest award for Imperial Russia) parade through the Red Square.
Russian servicewomen parade through Red Square during Victory Day celebrations that take place all across Russia
Sergei Shoigu (Russia’s defence minister), salutes troops while he rode through the Red Square during Victory Day
Russian officers who were severely reduced in ranks during the fighting in Ukraine march in this year’s Victory Day parade
A parade marking the 77th anniversary the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War Two was held by members of a Russian military group.
Sergei Shoigu (Russian Defense Minister) salutes his soldiers while he rides in the Aurus Senat vehicle along Red Square during the Victory Day Military Parade in Moscow
Russian soldiers make a soft “ura” cheer at the Victory Day parade, Moscow to commemorate Vladimir Putin’s speech.
However, there were still dozens of Russian armoured and tank vehicles as well as nuclear missiles launchers. They paraded with thousands of troops, before Putin made his way to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where he laid a wreath while the national anthem was being played.
This parade occurred hours after one in Russia’s eastern outpost Vladivostok. In that event, an Soviet-era motorbike with the symbol of the “Z”, which is synonymous with the Ukraine conflict was displayed among Soviet tanks.
Even though Putin had declared victory in Moscow the fighting continued between the Russian and Ukrainian forces in Donbas. A new artillery bombardment struck Mariupol. This is where unidentified numbers of Kyiv troops make a final stand in a steel mill.
Only the mill was not destroyed by the invaders. The defeat of the mill would mean that Ukraine loses a crucial port, and Russia can establish a land corridor from Russia to the Crimean Peninsula. Russia seized Ukraine’s territory in 2014
General Staff in Ukraine warned that there was a risk of missile strike and stated Russian troops had taken personal documents from local residents without any good reason. These were located in Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia, the place where Mariupol fleeing has been gathered. Russian troops are allegedly stealing documents in an attempt to forcibly residents to participate in Victory Day ceremonies, according to the military.
Volodymyr Zeleskyy, President of Ukraine, said that this anniversary (which marks victory for the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany) could lead to a fresh onslaught.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield (US ambassador to United Nations), said that the Russians have “nothing to celebrate”, speaking to CNN. They failed in their attempt to conquer the Ukrainians. They failed to divide the world and NATO. Their only success has been in isolating theirself internationally, and being a pariah country around the globe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to justify his invasion of Ukraine Monday during a parade to mark the holiday. He claimed that it was necessary because of a ‘completely unacceptable threat’ right near our borders. He repeatedly claimed that Ukraine planned to attack Russia, which Kyiv flatly refuted.
He stated that “the threat was growing by the day”, and also claimed that Russia has preemptively repelled an aggressive act.
Putin once again criticised the West for not responding to Russian demands for security assurances and a reduction in NATO expansion.
During the Victory Day parade, Russian soldiers march onto Red Square in Moscow
Russian cadets led marchers through Red Square as part of parades commemorating the Soviet victory against the Nazis during World War Two
Russian Navy sailors marched during the Victory Day military parade, marking the 77th anniversary the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.
Today, Russian VDV paratroopers (whose units suffered the most severe casualties in fighting in Ukraine) marched through Moscow’s Red Square.
Sergei Shoigu (Russia’s defence minister and rumoured deceased several times) rides in an open car along Moscow during Victory Day Celebrations.
Russian military personnel take part on Victory Day. This day marks the 77th Anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War Two.
Russian soldiers line up in front of a Moscow military parade to celebrate Victory Day
An army band takes part in the Victory Day Military Parade on Red Square, central Moscow.
At a military parade marking the 77th anniversary Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during World War Two, a T-34 Soviet tank and several other military vehicles pass through Novosibirsk.
A military parade sees military vehicles pass through Vladivostok, an eastern city. It marks the 77th anniversary the Soviet victory against Nazi Germany during World War Two.
An orange and black Saint George’s ribbon-emblazoned Russian tank with the Saint George’s stripes – Imperial Russia’s highest decoration
Russian infantry fighting vehicles are part of Victory Day parades held in Vladivostok (Russia’s far eastern) on May 9,
Participants in historical uniforms take part in a parade in WWII-era vehicles, marking the 77th anniversary Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during World War Two.
However, he didn’t give any signals about the next phase of conflict or claimed the total capture of Mariupol. His forces bombarded the city for many weeks and then besieged it.
Ukrainian fighters at the steel mill in Port City have refused to surrender their arms by Russian deadlines. They continued attacks with warplanes and artillery.
Capt. Sviatoslav Palmar, the deputy commander of Ukrainian Azov Regiment (a unit that holds the steel mill), said:
Another Azov Regiment soldier, Lt. Illya Samoilenko said that there were about 100 wounded soldiers in the plant. It was unclear how many of the able-bodied combatants were still there. Because fighters don’t have lifesaving equipment, they must dig manually to remove people from collapsed bunkers.
Samoilenko stated that ‘Surrender is not acceptable because we can’t grant such a gift the enemy.
Saturday saw the evacuation of all civilians that had sought shelter from the fighters at the facility. The last civilians who had sought shelter with fighters at the plant arrived in Zaporizhzhia Sunday night. They spoke of continuous shelling, food shortages, mold, constant fighting, and the necessity to use hand lubricant as cooking fuel.
The Defense Ministry of Britain warned that Russia is running out of precision-guided ammunition and was using increasingly inaccurate bombs and rockets. This has led to the Defense Ministry warning in an intelligence report posted on Twitter daily.
Officials in Ukraine said that more than 60 people are believed to have been killed when a Russian bomb exploded at the Ukrainian school used by Bilohorivka as an Eastern Village shelter.
Around 90 people had been hiding in the basement of the school when it was attacked on Saturday. Two bodies were found by emergency crews, and 30 others were rescued. However, it is most likely that all 60 victims who are still under the rubble have died, Serhiy Haidai (the governor of Luhansk Province) wrote via Telegram.
Haidai stated that two children, aged 11 and 14, were killed in a Russian bombardment near Pryvillia. Luhansk, which is the eastern industrial center of Russia, is located in Donbas.
Odesa was a port at the Black Sea.
In a show of determination, the Ukrainian military repelled Russian attempts to capture an island in the Black Sea. Planet Labs’ satellite images showed smoke rising at two points on the island.
Moscow showed no signs of retreating from the south, however. Satellite photographs show Russia having placed armored vehicles in Crimea Peninsula and missile systems there.
Ukraine’s military has also alerted 19 Russian combat battalion tactical teams that were located just across the border in Russia’s Belgorod Region. These units are expected to contain around 15,200 troops equipped with tanks, missile battery and other weaponry.
In eastern Ukraine, the most recent intense fighting has been taking place. The Institute for the Study of War in Washington, which is a think tank, said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive was taking place north of Kharkiv. This city is the second largest in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian army retreated from Popasna, an eastern city that was under siege after more than two months’ worth of fighting. Rodion Miroshnik was a representative from the pro-Kremlin and separatist Luhansk People’s Republic. He claimed Russian troops had captured the majority of the city.
According to the Kharkiv region administration, three persons were killed by shelling in Bogodukhiv (about 50 km (30 miles) away from Kharkiv).
A cluster munition that was found in Dnipropetrovsk after a Russian attack killed a twelve-year-old boy south of Kharkiv. Although an international treaty prohibits such explosives from being used, neither Russia nor Ukraine have signed it.
Governor: “This war is treacherous.” Valentyn Reznichenko wrote on social media. “It’s near even though it’s invisible.”
The West showed support for Ukraine as Victory Day turned its attention to Putin.
Group of Seven industrial democracies committed to phasing out or banning imports of Russian crude oil. G-7 is made up of Canada, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, France and Italy.
Another set of sanctions was announced by the United States. It banned Western advertising from Russia’s three largest TV stations. The ban also prohibited U.S. accounting or consulting firms from rendering services. Russia’s industrial sector was cut off from U.S.-made wood products, engines and boilers.
Jill Biden was the U.S.’s first lady and met her Ukrainian counterpart. Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister raised the flag of his country at Kyiv’s Embassy. Bono and The Edge performed together in Kyiv’s subway station, which had previously been used to shelter bombs.
Kristina Kristina, the acting U.S. ambassador in Ukraine, shared a photograph of her at the American Embassy. She also described the plans for the U.S.’ eventual return to Kiev after Moscow abandons its attempts to invade Kyiv weeks earlier.
Zelenskyy made a video address to mark the anniversary of the Allied victory over Germany 77 years earlier. In the black-and white footage, Zelenskyy was shown in front of Borodyanka’s ruined apartment building in a Kyiv suburb.
Zelenskyy made parallels between Russia’s invading Ukraine and Nazism’s evils. He said that generations of Ukrainians have learned to understand the meaning of the words “Never again,” a promise not to let the Holocaust horrors happen again.
