Putin praises military progress in Ukraine on Victory Day, warns the West again | Abroad

Putin, who has just started a new term in office, took part in the annual military parade on May 9, the day Russia marks the 79th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. That victory over the Nazis – which caused 27 million Soviet deaths and touched every Russian family – also recurs in Putin’s speeches to justify his attack on Ukraine.

“Revanchism, abuse of history and an attempt to justify today’s Nazi followers are part of a general policy by Western elites to foment new regional conflicts. Today we see how they try to distort the truth about the Second World War,” Putin told the gathered guests and soldiers.

“We know where the excess of such ambitions leads. Russia will do everything to avoid a global clash. But at the same time, we will not allow anyone to threaten us. Our strategic forces are always in a combat-ready state,” Putin said on Red Square after Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspected troops. The president spoke in front of thousands of soldiers and other attendees.

The mood in Moscow is more exuberant than last year, observers said. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, approximately 9,000 soldiers and 61 pieces of military equipment took part in the parade. This includes intercontinental ballistic missile systems and the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. In contrast to last year’s subdued celebrations, there was another traditional air show: fighter planes colored the sky in the white, blue and red of the Russian flag.

Since the disappointing start of the large-scale offensive against Kiev in February 2022, the Russian army has made progress in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks. According to observers, the Russians are in a better position than last year, mainly due to ammunition shortages on the opponent’s side, despite the continued heavy losses.

Vladimir Putin, now 71 years old, repeated his speech and once again promised victory to the Russian people against a Ukrainian government that is being portrayed as a gang of neo-Nazis.

Thursday’s military parade is central to the Kremlin’s story, which also wants to radiate strength to its own people, observers say. Vladimir Putin, who is quite isolated on the international stage, had few visiting foreign heads of state. The leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were there, but according to the Kremlin, those of Cuba, Laos and Guinea-Bissau were also present. Armenia demonstratively stayed away, observers said, because of differences of opinion with Putin.

Victory Day is accompanied by a large military show with marching soldiers, armored vehicles, aircraft and other weapons. But some May 9 parades were canceled for “security reasons”, especially in the regions of Kursk, near the Ukrainian border, and Pskov, next to Estonia. In Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, the traditional march of the ‘Immortal Regiment’ was also canceled by authorities to avoid any terrorist or provocative action, according to the agency Akipress. On March 22, an attack on a concert hall near Moscow, claimed by the Islamic State, left 144 dead and hundreds injured.

On the domestic front, Vladimir Putin’s power – after the elimination of opponents such as Alexei Navalny and Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin – seems more unchallenged than ever. Earlier this week, Putin ordered the Russian military to hold “nuclear exercises” in response to what Moscow calls Western provocations.

Putin asked for a minute’s silence at the end of his speech, before concluding with the words: “For Russia! For the win! Hurrah!” This was answered by the soldiers with a loud three cheers, gun salutes and the Russian national anthem.

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