While Russian tanks and about 11,000 soldiers rolled into Red Square in Moscow during “Victory Day”, Vladimir Putin claimed that NATO had plans to invade “Russia’s Crimea”.
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– NATO started military movements near our territories, near our borders. Everything suggested that a fight against a collection of neo-Nazis was inevitable, Putin said in his speech during the large military parade in the capital Moscow.
In 2014, Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, which belonged to Ukraine, and in contrast to large parts of the world, considers the area Russian.
On Monday, Russia celebrates its annual celebration of the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 – the end of World War II in Europe.
With President Vladimir Putin and his closest allies as spectators in Red Square in the middle of the capital Moscow, 11,000 soldiers and 131 other military vehicles will take part in the parade.
77 planes and helicopters were scheduled to fly over the city. But just before the parade started, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the plane section had been canceled due to the weather situation in Moscow. It is unclear why the weather conditions were too demanding.
Just before 09.00 Norwegian time, the president himself arrived at the Red Square. He shook hands with a number of military veterans, who had been placed on the podium before sitting down.
A few minutes later, as the clock struck 10 in the Kremlin’s bell tower, and thousands upon thousands of soldiers lined up, the parade began, as you can see photos below:
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Not long after, the corps music started while the hosts of the parade, General Oleg Saljukov and the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, were driven around in open cars while saluting and talking to the soldiers.
– Good day, comrades. Congratulations on the 77th anniversary of the victory in the Great Depression, Saljukov and Sjoigu say to the soldiers, who respond with loud, unanimous shouts
Putin: – Would not listen to us
At 0915, Putin’s speech began. There he draws parallels between what happened in 1945 and what is happening in the Donbas now.
– We fight for our country’s security, he says.
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Putin claims, as he has done before, that Russia in Ukraine is fighting fascists and right-wing extremists. According to the news agency Reuters, he also claims that the West had plans to invade Russia, and described it as “an immediate threat”.
This was the Crimean peninsula he was referring to.
Putin says that Russia asked the West in vain for an honest dialogue, but that they met deaf ears in NATO countries.
– The other countries would not listen to us. They had completely different plans.
– We never go away from the love of our fatherland, he continued.
He further says that the “military special operation” in Ukraine, ie the invasion of the country, was necessary and the only correct decision.
During the speech, which lasted just over ten minutes and was followed by the Russian national anthem, Putin also asked those present for a minute of silence for the fallen soldiers.
Putin did not mention Ukraine once in his speech.
After the speech, the parade continued with the soldiers marching across the square in their parade uniforms:
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No statements
This year’s celebration of “Victory Day” is seen as extra important because Russia went to war against Ukraine earlier this year.
– What Russia is planning this year is a part of legitimize a terrible brutal war of aggression in Ukraine, said Kari Aga Myklebost, professor of history at UiT Norway’s Arctic University, to VG this weekend.
She believes that the May 9 celebrations, which have always been important in the country, have taken place in recent years an increasing imprint of propaganda.
So far, Putin has called the invasion of the neighboring country a “military special operation.” A number of experts have recently wondered whether he will use “Victory Day” to actually declare war. Something most of the world thinks it already is.
Putin does that for he can mobilize the reserve force.
Such an announcement did not come during Putin’s relatively short speech at Red Square this morning. Putin also did not declare victory in the war, as had been speculated in advance that he might do so.
Russian TV must be hacked
Monday morning, just before the big military parade started, Russian TV is said to have been hacked, according to photos shared on social media.
In the pictures, it seems that the message appears in the information function on TV boxes. All names of TV channels must be changed to “There is blood on their hands”.
“Their hands are covered in blood from thousands of dead Ukrainians and hundreds of children,” reads the message that is said to have appeared on Russian television. Furthermore, it says that “TV and the regime are lying. No to the war. “
According to Russian media, the Russian video service Rutube was also unavailable on Monday due to a computer attack.
Zelensky: We won then. We want to win now
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj also marks the victory over the German Nazi regime in World War II on Monday morning. He does this with a new video speech on Twitter.
– We won then. We will win now, Zelenskyj assures in the video.
In the video, the Ukrainian president walks through the streets of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, while speaking to the people. The speech is pre-recorded
– We are fighting for a new victory. The road to it will be difficult, but we have no doubt that we will win, he says.
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