CNN
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Russia’s President Vladimir Putin stated his forces had been “at all times prepared” to fight exterior threats, as he addressed crowds gathered at Moscow’s Crimson Sq. on Thursday to have a good time the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World Battle II.
Russia’s annual Might 9 Victory Day procession has lengthy been a key occasion in Putin’s calendar as an opportunity for him to rally public help and exhibit his nation’s army energy.
Whereas there have been even fewer troopers and army gear on show than final yr’s already subdued occasion, Victory Day this yr comes with Russia making advances on the frontlines in Ukraine.
Putin gave his speech after inspecting the standard show of tanks and columns of troops parading by way of the capital.
“Russia will do all the things in an effort to not let a world confrontation start,” Putin stated, including: “However we won’t let anybody threaten us, our strategic forces are at all times prepared.”
“Expensive pals, Russia goes by way of a tough interval,” the Russian chief continued, saying the “battle of our motherland will depend on each certainly one of us.”
“As we speak, on the Victory Day, we notice this much more so,” he concluded, ending his speech with a minute of silence.
Round 27 million individuals within the Soviet Union died in World Battle II, greater than in every other nation.
Russia’s protection minister, Military Common Sergei Shoigu, stated in an announcement on Telegram that 9,000 individuals and 70 items of army tools would take part in the principle army parade on Crimson Sq..
This was lower than final yr, when Shoigu stated greater than 10,000 individuals and 125 objects of army {hardware} could be concerned.
A number of world leaders, principally from ex-Soviet international locations, had been invited.
These scheduled to be there have been Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan, Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba, Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos, and Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau.
Russian Overseas Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova advised TASS in an interview that “unfriendly international locations” weren’t invited for a 3rd Victory Day because the warfare in Ukraine started.
“They’re pursuing an aggressive coverage towards our nation. They formulate it as inflicting strategic defeat,” Zakharova stated.
Putin has portrayed his invasion of Ukraine in patriotic phrases — as a response to a menace posed by the West, one thing flatly rejected by Kyiv and its allies.
His Victory Day deal with comes simply days after the Russian chief was inaugurated for a fifth time period in workplace, in a rigorously choreographed ceremony.
The inauguration, held Tuesday within the Kremlin, was attended by Russia’s high army and political brass, however america and lots of European nations declined to ship a consultant after dismissing Russia’s elections as a sham.
It additional cemented Putin’s grip on energy in Russia, the place he has served as both president or prime minister since his first inauguration in 2000, and tinkered with Russia’s structure to take away time period limits and prolong every time period’s size from 4 years to 6.
