Russia celebrated the 78th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory against Nazi Germany in the second world war on Tuesday, May 9th. The Victory Day celebration held at Moscow’s Red Square was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Soviet Red Army veterans.
Presidents of several former Soviet republics —Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon— also attended the Victory Day celebration in Moscow. Former Soviet republic Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also took part in the event.
In his speech, President Putin criticised the West for its anti-Russian policies and for its attempt to nullify the gains of the “Great Patriotic War” – the official name of the second world war in Russia.
He said that the West is trying “to achieve the disintegration and destruction of our country, nullify the results of the second world war, completely break down the system of global security and international law, and strangle any sovereign centres of development”.
Criticising the attempts by the West to revive neo-Nazis, especially in Ukraine, to balkanise Russia, Putin said, “Any ideology of superiority is by its nature disgusting, criminal and deadly”.
“The globalist elites keep insisting on their exceptionalism; they pit people against each other, split societies, provoke bloody conflicts and coups, sow hatred, Russophobia and aggressive nationalism, destroy traditional family values that make human a human”, Putin said.
He alleged that the US-led West has been attempting to “further dictate their will, their rights and their rules” on the world, and said they are promoting “a system of robbery, violence and suppression” on the global stage.
Referring to Russia’s ongoing special military operations in Ukraine, Putin blamed the West for the conflagration and accused it of fomenting trouble near its borders. “Overwhelming ambitions, arrogance and permissiveness inevitably lead to tragedies. This is the reason for the catastrophe that the Ukrainian people are now experiencing”, he claimed.
Over 8,000 troops took part in Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow this year. They included 530 fighters participating in the special military operation in Ukraine, and 125 military hardware.
Russian Federation’s Defence Minister Army General Sergey Shoigu reviewed the military parade, which was commanded by Ground Forces Commander-in-Chief Army General Oleg Salyukov.
The parade started with the Honour Guard’s banner group carrying the Russian flag and the Soviet Union’s legendary victory banner that was hoisted atop the Reichstag by the Red Army in May 1945.
Around 30 infantry columns took part in the parade. A legendary T-34 tank of the Soviet Red Army led the mechanised column. Tigr-M armoured vehicles, BTR-82A armoured personnel carriers, Bumerang infantry fighting vehicles, Iskander-M tactical missile systems, S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems and Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers also took part in the Victory Day parade.
Following the Victory Day parade, the leaders of the former Soviet soldiers laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Red Square, which is a monument of all Red Army soldiers who lost their lives defending the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany.
This is the second year of the Victory Day celebration in Moscow after Putin launched the special military operation in Ukraine. In the meantime, Ukraine has abolished the Victory Day celebration in the country and the US has allegedly threatened veterans to stop them from visiting Moscow for the Victory Day celebration.
