On Thursday, Russia commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two amidst deepening crises in relations with the West over the advance of Russian troops against Ukraine’s Western-backed forces.
Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko and the leaders of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Cuba, among officials from other allied countries who have been invited to the Parade by Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin, who ascended to power just eight years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, is set to address the Victory Day parade on Red Square.
Putin emphasized the Soviet Union’s crucial role in defeating Nazi Germany. He stresses that history should remember that neither Napoleon Bonaparte nor Adolf Hitler could conquer Russia.
“I want to pay homage to our heroes, the participants of the special military operation, and to all those who are fighting for the Fatherland,” Putin stated during his inauguration for a new presidential term on Tuesday.
Despite receiving significant aid from the United States and its allies Ukrainian forces have been unable to hold Russia’s’ advances.
The Soviet Union suffered immense losses during World War Two, with 27 million casualties. Nevertheless, Soviet forces ultimately pushed Nazi forces back to Berlin, culminating in Hitler’s suicide and the raising of the red Soviet Victory Banner over the Reichstag in 1945.
While France, Britain, and the United States commemorate “Victory in Europe Day” on May 8, in Moscow, it was already May 9, marking the Soviet Union’s “Victory Day” in what Russians refer to as the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45.
Parades occurred across Russia’s 11 time zones, with the Moscow parade commencing at 0700 GMT. Notably, leaders from Western countries were absent, with Russia only extending invitations to ambassadors of countries supporting Ukraine.
