Russia Celebrates Victory Day Amidst Drone Attacks and Ongoing War in Ukraine
Russia Marks 80th Anniversary of WWII Victory
MOSCOW — Russia celebrated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II with a massive military parade on Red Square on Friday. President Vladimir Putin, alongside a host of foreign leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, watched the spectacle.
Victory Day, observed annually on May 9th, is Russia’s most significant secular holiday. This year’s celebrations, however, were overshadowed by escalating tensions with Ukraine and recent drone attacks targeting Moscow.
A Day of National Pride and Global Power Projection
The Soviet Union’s staggering losses of 27 million lives during the Great Patriotic War (1941-45) are deeply ingrained in the national memory. This shared sacrifice transcends political divides, making Victory Day a potent symbol of national pride and a platform for the Kremlin to emphasize Russia’s role as a global power.
The parade and accompanying ceremonies served as a demonstration of Moscow’s military strength and a symbol of its alliances, particularly in the face of Western pressure amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Drone Attacks and Heightened Security
Festivities were disrupted by Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow, forcing the cancellation and delay of numerous flights at the city’s airports. Russian authorities implemented stringent security measures, including cellphone internet outages, in an attempt to thwart further attacks.
Putin’s Message: A Call to Resolve and Retaliation
In his address during the parade, Putin praised the courage and determination of Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, declaring, “We are proud of their courage and determination, their spiritual force that always has brought us victory.”
While Putin announced a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire coinciding with Victory Day, he warned of a forceful response to any aggression. This ceasefire, however, does not align with a proposed 30-day truce by the United States, which Ukraine has accepted but Russia has rejected, demanding a halt to Western arms supplies and Kyiv’s mobilization efforts.
Continued Fighting and International Condemnation
Ukrainian officials reported numerous Russian strikes on Friday, resulting in casualties and damage to infrastructure in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Meanwhile, in Lviv, western Ukraine, European officials were meeting to support the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian officials accused of war crimes. This move underscores the growing international condemnation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
