“The world is at a tipping point with a real war against Russia.” A rebel Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine 13 months ago, used these words on the occasion of Victory Day in Moscow, in which with the already famous military parade every year, the country celebrates the defeat of the Nazis 1945.
Putin promised this Tuesday the “victory” in this “war” in Ukraine, orchestrated, according to him, by the West to destroy Russia, parallel to the Second World War.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022 in what it then described (and still does) as a “quick operation” that was to last 15 days, overthrowing Volodimir Zelensky and capturing Kiev. Three months later, it is still facing a cost in lives and massive destruction.
More than a year after launching the offensive in Ukraine, Putin does not stop presenting this conflict as a strategy of Western countries, in order to internally justify their own failure.
“Civilization is at a turning point again. A war against our homeland has begun,” he said on Moscow’s Red Square, before thousands of Russian soldiers, politicians and several leaders of the former Soviet republics.
The president addressed the Russian forces, in particular the hundreds of thousands of mobilized reservists: “the future of our state and our people depends on you”, he insisted, once again accusing the Western powers of using Ukraine to achieve “the sinking and destruction of our country”.
“For Russia, for our brave armed forces, for victory! Hurray!” he shouted before giving way to the parade of thousands of soldiers and armored vehicles.
This annual ceremony seeks to exalt Russian power, especially when the 1945 victory occupies a central place in the nationalism promoted by Putin.
the shadow of failure
But this year the commemorations are held below the shadow of military failures on the ground, while Kiev says it is preparing a major counter-offensive.
On Monday, the day many Western countries celebrate the end of World War II, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised Russia would be defeated as Nazism was.
Breaking with the Soviet May 9 tradition, Kiev received European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday to celebrate Europe Day.
The European Union (EU) will not let itself be “intimidated by the show of force” shown by Putin in Moscow, the head of the German government, Olaf Scholz, said in front of the European Parliament.
In the field, after 15 months of offensive in Ukraine, the Russian army appears weakened by lossessetbacks on the battlefield and tensions between the General Staff and the paramilitaries of the Wagner group, the Kremlin’s private mercenary army, under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin.
The head of the militia has chosen the symbolic date of May 9 to accuse the military hierarchies they want to “deceive” Putin about how the campaign was conducted in the field.
Prigozhin also said that regular army soldiers they left their positions in Bakhmut, epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine.
“They have abandoned their positions, they all fled”he said in a video on Telegram.
“Why is the state unable to defend the country?”, he added, assuring what was shown on Russian television It didn’t reflect reality.
Tight security
These celebrations are taking place amid tight security measures, after the attacks on Russian territory attributed by Moscow to Kyiv have multiplied.
These attacks come as a major Ukrainian counter-offensive is announced as imminent, aimed at trying to recover the territories occupied by Russia. in the south and east of the country.
The most spectacular attack, albeit subject to many question marks, was last week’s attack with two drones on the Kremlin.
Moscow presented it as an attempt to assassinate Putin. Ukraine has denied being behind it and has hinted that what happened could be the work of an internal rebel movement or a provocation of Russian power.
In recent weeks there have also been attacks on Russian energy plants, sabotage of the railways and the attempted murder of the nationalist writer Zajar Prilepin, injured on Saturday by an explosion in his vehicle.
The result was that several marches and events scheduled in various cities of the country were cancelled, particularly in the border regions with Ukraine and in the annexed peninsula of Crimea, for fear of the “terrorist” risk.
On the ground, Moscow keep bombing Ukraine.
Ukrainian Air Force claimed Tuesday that it had shot down 23 Russian cruise missiles, of the 25 launched during the night.
Kiev’s military administration said it had shot down about 15 “enemy air targets” around the capital, but reported no casualties or serious damage.
Clarín writing with information from AFP
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Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.