© picture alliance / TheKremlinMoscow-SvenSimon | The Kremlin Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin used the parade marking Victory Day in Moscow's Red Square to express confidence in Russia's eventual victory in Ukraine. He praised the troops who he said are fighting "an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc".
The annual commemoration of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany is Russia's main secular holiday and has long served as a platform to showcase military might and national unity. This year's parade was remarkably limited. For the first time in nearly two decades, tanks, missiles and other heavy weapons were absent. However, there was still the traditional flyover of fighter planes.
"Victory has always been ours and will always be ours," Vladimir Putin said about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has already entered its fifth year. "The key to success is our moral strength, courage and bravery, our unity and our ability to endure anything and overcome any challenge."
The U.S. brokered a cease-fire from Saturday to Monday, but neither Russia nor Ukraine fully adhered to it. Both countries blamed each other for the ongoing attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the pause could be "the beginning of the end" of the war. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky issued a decree mockingly allowing Russia to hold its celebrations, and declared Red Square temporarily off-limits to Ukrainian attacks.
Russia warned of a massive missile attack on central Kiev if Ukraine tried to disrupt the celebrations. Several foreign leaders attended the parade, including the heads of state of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Malaysia.
Mobile Internet and text messaging services were temporarily restricted throughout Moscow during the event. The restriction is the latest in a series of measures to tighten controls on communications and online activities in Russia.
Picture: © picture alliance / TheKremlinMoscow-SvenSimon | The Kremlin Moscow