Follow the Russian parade directly here:
In Moscow, the stage is set for a major military parade when Russia marks the victory over Nazi Germany 77 years ago. It starts Monday morning local time. In more eastern parts of the country, the markings started a few hours earlier due to the time difference.
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Usually, the day does not attract much attention abroad, but this year Putin’s message will be followed with the eyes of an entire world, and especially in neighboring Ukraine, where citizens fear he will declare full military mobilization. This means that all Russian men of war age can be called up to take part in the war.
Recently, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov downplayed the significance of Victory Day for the war, and some analysts believe Putin will first and foremost draw attention to what Russia has achieved in Ukraine so far while trying to portray Russia as a nation of peace.
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When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Putin justified it by saying that the country should be “de-Nazified,” a message he has maintained.
Russian forces and pro-Russian separatists now have full control of the port city of Mariupol, except for the Azovstal steelworks, where Ukrainian forces from the Azov battalion still stand.
In the days before the war, there have also been fierce fighting in the Donbas region in the east of the country, and some have believed that Russia’s goal was to take the entire Luhansk province before 9 May.
Follow the Belarusian military parade here:
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