Overshadowed by the war of aggression against Ukraine, the traditional military parade commemorating the victory of the Soviet Union in the Second World War took place in the Russian capital Moscow. In cold weather around zero degrees and light snowfall, President Vladimir Putin, who only a few days ago officially started his fifth term in office, was also present on Red Square on Thursday morning. And he again addressed threatening words to the West…
The Soviet Union’s victory over Hitler’s Germany was 79 years ago. But Putin is increasingly using the commemoration of the World War to present the war he ordered against Ukraine as an alleged continuation of the fight against fascism.
As part of the festivities, Kremlin boss Putin again invoked his country’s willingness to fight and also threatened to use nuclear weapons. These are “always alert,” Putin assured on Thursday at the start of the annual celebration of the 79th Victory Day during the grand military parade on Red Square in Moscow.
Russia will “do everything to avoid a global confrontation,” he said. “At the same time, we will not allow anyone to threaten us.”
Thousands of soldiers marched across Red Square
During the parade commemorating the end of World War II, thousands of soldiers traditionally march across Red Square, accompanied by tanks, fighter jets and rocket launchers. According to Russian media, more than 9,000 soldiers took part in the parade. This year, the traditional military parade will once again focus on the Russian military operation in Ukraine, which Putin ordered in February 2022.
Fun fact: During the parade one of the participants lost a shoe:
Putin speaks of “hypocrisy” and “lies”
Putin also again made accusations against the West during the military parade. This attempts to distort the memory of the Soviet victory. The truth worries “those who base their colonial policies on hypocrisy and lies,” the Russian president said. “Revanchism, the mocking of history, the attempt to justify today’s Nazi imitators – this is part of the general policy of Western elites to always unleash new regional conflicts, ethnic or religious conflicts.”
The Second World War ended 79 years ago with the surrender of the German Wehrmacht. In Western Europe the event is commemorated on May 8, and in Russia and other former Soviet Union states on May 9.
The parade was chaired by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The traditional parades were also held in other places, but were canceled this year for security reasons in many cities, including in the Bryansk and Kursk regions bordering Ukraine.
Injured in an airstrike on the Belgorod region of Russia
The airstrikes on Russia’s Belgorod region, which continued on Thursday evening, show how necessary these steps by the Kremlin were. According to Russian information, at least eight people were injured and numerous houses and cars were damaged. The governor of the region bordering Ukraine said Thursday that an 11-year-old girl was among the injured and taken to hospital. A Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire at a refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
About six drones were shot down, but debris fell on the refinery near the village of Yurovka and caused a fire, the regional administration said on Thursday via the short-messaging service Telegram. Several tanks were damaged.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian air defense systems destroyed 17 of 20 Russian drones over the Odessa region. The Ukrainian Air Force announced this via the short message service Telegram. Initially there were no reports of damage or injuries.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
