Russia stages massive victory day parade, Putin hails troops in Ukraine as foreign leaders attend

Russia marked the eightieth anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany with a enormous protection force parade on Pink Square in Moscow, showcasing its protection force strength amid the ongoing warfare in Ukraine. The event, held on Might perchance well 9—Russia’s most essential secular holiday—was attended by so a lot of foreign leaders, underlining the Kremlin’s efforts to mission international influence and defy Western isolation.

Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, alongside with Slovakia’s Top Minister Robert Fico and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, joined President Vladimir Putin for the commemorations. Vučić’s visit marks his first wander to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, irrespective of EU warnings that such a pass could jeopardize Serbia’s EU accession hopes.

In his speech, President Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, calling them defenders against Nazism, Russophobia, and antisemitism.

“Russia has been and must aloof be an impassable barrier for Nazism… The real fact and fairness are on our aspect,” he declared, emphasizing national team spirit and pleasure in Russia’s “special protection force operation.”

Greater than 11,500 troops and 180 protection force vehicles, including tanks and nuclear-capable missile launchers, took fragment in the mask. The air explain featured fighter jets trailing smoke in the colors of the Russian flag.

The celebrations had been held below tight security resulting from most fresh Ukrainian drone attacks and airport disruptions in Moscow. Internet outages had been additionally reported, likely resulting from electronic countermeasures.

This 365 days’s Victory Day, whereas rooted in remembrance of the Soviet Union’s astronomical sacrifices during World War II, additionally served as a platform for Putin to solidify domestic improve and promote unique world alliances amid an increasingly divided international panorama.

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