Russia has dismissed speculation that it will declare all-out war on Ukraine in the coming days, describing the allegations as “absurd”.
So far, Moscow has denied it was at war, describing the invasion as a “special military operation”.
But officials from countries supporting Ukraine think that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use the May 9 Victory Parade to herald the escalation of military action.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the rumors were “by no means” true.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said last week that the Moscow parade commemorating the defeat of the Nazis and the end of World War II could be used to rally support for new investment and mass mobilization in Ukraine.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he’ll probably declare this May holiday that ‘we are at war with the world’s Nazis and we need to mobilize the Russian people’ and I have no knowledge of that. mass,'” he told British radio LBC.
Russian officials describe the invasion of Ukraine as a “special military operation” solely to “demilitarize” or “de-Jewish” the country, citing a false allegation in the Ukrainian government about the Nazis that Moscow used to justify the invasion.
In addition to the annual parade in Moscow, there has been long-standing information that the Kremlin is planning some kind of additional parade in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which is mostly under Russian control. Ukrainian forces are located in a part of the city, at a large industrial steelworks called Azovstal.
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After the recent successful evacuation of some civilians, attacks on the steel mills resumed and contact was lost with the last remaining soldiers inside.
Ukrainian officials say the streets in the center of the city have been cleared of debris, bodies and unexploded bombs. After weeks of relentless bombardment by Russian forces, much of the city was in ruins.
Ukrainian lawmaker Alyona Shkrum told the BBC that Russians expect things to get tougher during the Victory Day celebrations.
“This is basically a symbolic day for Putin and the empire he’s trying to build, isn’t it?” said. “So it kind of takes a day of glory and now turns it into a major war against the Nazis, which is clearly Russian propaganda and utter nonsense.”
“Due to May 9, we expect quite difficult times here in Kiev, in addition to Odessa, Mariupol and other cities.”
Analysis by BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner
At the risk of stating the obvious, there is only one person who can be absolutely sure of how Russia plans to celebrate its annual Victory Day on May 9, and that person is Vladimir Putin.
And it hides the game. Moscow’s refusal to plan to declare war that day should be met with a certain amount of skepticism.
In the days leading up to the February 24 invasion, Russian officials repeatedly mocked the signs of an imminent invasion as “Western hysteria and propaganda.” However, the invasion took place and took many Ukrainians by surprise.
Therefore, what we can least expect is a few victorious announcements of the goals achieved and the defeat of (real or imaginary) enemies.
The blame for Russia’s slow advance east of Donbas will most likely be blamed on NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, western military alliance) and other warnings will come to the West to stop helping Ukraine defend itself.
Whatever happens on May 9, it’s hard to see that this war will end anytime soon.
source: Noticias
