Russian President Vladimir Putin led a scaled-down Vistory Day parade in Moscow. He emphasised his assertions that the West launched a “true war” against Russia, and exalted his war in Ukraine on Tuesday. But many saw the pared-back celebrations as a showcase of Russia’s vulnerability and military weakness.
The country’s annual holiday marks the defeat of Nazi Germany. Tuesday’s celebrations comes nearly 15 months into its own invasion of Ukraine, and days after an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin.
A day before Victory Day, Russia launched its biggest drone attack on Ukraine. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said Russia fired 60 kamikaze drones, including 36 at the capital.
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Those fired at Kyiv were reportedly shot down, but debris hit apartments and other buildings, injuring at least five people.
“Saving humanity from Nazism”
Victory Day is no doubt the most significant day in Putin’s calendar. He has long used it to rally public support and demonstrate Russia’s military power. Historically, heads of state of allied nations, war veterans and military personnel attend. They watch massive missile launchers, troops and battle parade though Red Square in Moscow.
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Over 10,000 people and 125 units of different types of weapons and equipment were reportedly set to be on display this year. However, just one ancient World War II-era tank led the mechanised column.
For the first time in years, the Victory Day parade ended in under an hour.
During his speech, Putin thanked WWII veterans for “saving humanity from Nazism”, but emphasised his narrative that the war in Ukraine was needed to stop a fresh attack on Russia. He added that “a real war has been waged against our Motherland again”.
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Ukraine, along with its Western allies, dismiss these claims. They see Putin’s war as part of his imperialist mission to ‘restore’ Russia to power and glory.
