Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak at a military parade on Red Square on Tuesday to mark Victory Day over Nazi Germany on May 9, even though two drones were recently shot down over the Kremlin.

Vladimir Putin, the defense minister and other dignitaries are expected to view the Red Square parade, which usually features tanks, intercontinental missile launchers and marching troops.

Victory Day is one of the most important public holidays in Russia, when people commemorate the huge sacrifices made by the Soviet Union during the so-called Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, in which about 27 million citizens died. this anniversary is even more emotionally charged as Russia mourns the thousands of soldiers killed in the nearly 15-month war in Ukraine, which shows no signs of ending.

Putin will deliver a speech on Red Square, where he will be joined by leaders of several former Soviet republics. In last year’s speech, he did not mention Ukraine, but criticized the NATO military alliance for expanding Russia’s borders and hailed Soviet heroism in standing up to Hitler. Since then, Finland, which borders Russia, has also joined NATO.

Nervousness in Moscow

There is some nervousness in the capital of the Russian Federation after two drones flew over the walls of the Kremlin, the historic seat of power in Moscow, last Wednesday, exposing vulnerabilities in the center of the Russian capital, drawing fire from the Russian authorities.

Authorities banned the use of drones and began jamming GPS signals, leading to chaos around the Kremlin on ride-sharing apps. Binoculars were hurriedly handed over to the police to spot the approaching drones.

“There’s a nervousness that we’ve never seen before,” said a Moscow City Hall official. “But Victory Day must take place, there is no other option,” he added on condition of anonymity.

The carefully organized Victory Parades, which take place across the country, are traditionally an opportunity for the Kremlin to demonstrate Russia’s modern military might.

Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin somewhat overshadowed the celebrations in Moscow by again accusing military commanders of not providing their mercenaries with ammunition, “Putin’s chef” said he would make additional statements after the military parade, in which the leader will take part from the Kremlin.

Putin’s allies take part in a military parade for Victory Day

Airplanes and helicopters will not be visible in the sky of Moscow, and one of the most famous events on May 9, the so-called march of the Immortal Regiment – a solemn procession during which people walk with portraits of their relatives, veterans from World War II – in turn, was canceled this year.

Analysts say the authorities fear the procession could end up highlighting the real number of Russian casualties in Ukraine, with relatives bringing portraits of those killed in the current war.

The Kremlin said on Monday that the heads of state of Russia’s traditional allies had been invited to take part in World War II Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, a reversal of Moscow’s stance in just a week.

The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Leader of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov are expected to attend the Victory Parade in Moscow, Kommersant reports. .

Putin will sit on the “stand of hypocrisy” to see the “parade of murderers”

Also on Tuesday, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, arrived in Kyiv on Europe Day, who visited the capital of Ukraine for the fifth time since the invasion of Russia.

She will meet with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi.

The symbolic date of the visit is May 9, Europe Day, which Ukraine will also begin to celebrate after joining the EU.

Europe Day is celebrated annually on May 9 to celebrate peace and unity in Europe and to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Schuman Declaration.

“This visit will focus on all dimensions of our relationship with Ukraine,” said the spokesman, who said the visit was intended to confirm Ukraine’s “unwavering support for the EU.”

Mykhailo Podolyak, one of the advisers of the Ukrainian president, said that Vladimir Putin will be in Moscow today “on the podium of hypocrisy”, and then he will witness a “parade of murderers”.

Podolyak says that Russia fired missiles at “peaceful Ukrainian cities” at night in a “malicious attempt” to “liberate” civilians.

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