Russia celebrates May 9 as a holiday, commemorating the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II. Last year, the Russian army repulsed a counteroffensive by the Ukrainians and advanced on front lines despite Kiev’s lack of supplies and personnel.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, is scheduled to speak at the yearly Victory Day parade in Moscow. He hopes that by doing so, he would inspire patriotism as his soldiers move forward in Ukraine.
One of Russia’s most significant national holidays under President Putin is the May 9 parade, which takes place this Thursday to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union in World War II.
The Russian president has described the war against Ukraine as an existential struggle against “Nazism” on multiple occasions.
Red Square hosts the major parade, which is attended by thousands of military personnel dressed in ceremonial garb and columns of Russian military hardware, including cutting-edge missiles and air defense systems.
Foreign delegates are frequently invited to participate in the ceremony.
According to a Kremlin aide cited by Russian official media this week, eight international leaders will be present during Thursday’s march.
Along with the presidents of Cuba, Laos, and Guinea-Bissau, they are the chiefs of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
The day before the march, the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union, a regional organization made up of some former Soviet states, met at the Kremlin.
Buoyed by his soldiers’ successes in Ukraine and a new six-year term in government following his victory in March elections, Putin will deliver this year’s speech.
Despite Kiev’s challenges with shortages of both men and weapons, Russia’s army has made progress on the front lines after repelling a much-hyped counter-offensive by the latter last year.
“Win” for the Russians
Ahead of this year’s parade, which coincides with a wave of Ukrainian drone assaults on Russian territory, Moscow authorities have increased security.
Beginning at 10:00 a.m. (0700 GMT), Moscow’s parade is one of the biggest occasions of the year in the Russian metropolis.
Weeks in preparation, nighttime rehearsals are held, large sections of central Moscow are blocked off to military traffic, and enormous scaffolding and banners are erected around the Kremlin’s walls on Red Square.
Due to security concerns, parades in other parts of Russia, such as the western Kursk and Pskov regions, have been canceled.
The celebrations take place two days after Putin began his unprecedented fifth term by promising to bring “victory” to the Russian people.
Along with increasing its rhetoric around nuclear weapons, Russia earlier this week announced nuclear weapons drills involving troops and the navy stationed close to Ukraine.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
