Putin to mark Victory Day emboldened by Ukraine gains

The Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow later today, an event he hopes will rally patriotism as his forces advance in Ukraine.

The 9 May parade marks the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II and has become one of Russia’s most important public holidays under Mr Putin.

The Russian president has repeatedly framed the current fight against Ukraine as an existential battle against “Nazism”.

The Kremlin leader typically uses his 9 May speech to shower his troops and army veterans with praise, as well as show off Russia’s military hardware to audiences he hopes will be watching from around the world.

The parade takes place on Red Square, featuring columns of Russian military equipment, including advanced missiles and air defence systems, as well as thousands of military personnel dressed in ceremonial attire.

Russia often invites representatives from countries it deems “friendly” to the event, though attendance had dwindled even before it sent troops into Ukraine amid a stand-off with the West.

Eight world leaders will attend the parade, Russian state-media reported this week, citing a Kremlin aide.

They are the heads of five ex-Soviet countries, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as the leaders of Cuba, Laos and Guinea-Bissau.

In a high-profile snub, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signalled he will not attend amid a spat between the two allies.

Read more about the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Mr Putin will deliver this year’s address backed by his troops’ advances in Ukraine and a fresh six-year mandate in office after winning elections in March devoid of opposition.

Russia’s army held off a much-hyped Ukrainian counter-offensive last year, and it has since made gains on the front lines as Ukraine struggles with ammunition and manpower shortages.

‘Victory’

Authorities in the capital have heightened security ahead of this year’s parade, which comes amid a spate of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory.

The parade, which starts at 10am Moscow time (8am Irish time) in the Russian capital, is one of the largest events of the year in the city.

Night-time rehearsals take place weeks in advance, swathes of central Moscow are closed off for the military traffic, and huge scaffolding and banners are erected along the walls of the Kremlin on Red Square.

Other parts of Russia, including the western Kursk and Pskov regions, have cancelled their parades due to security concerns.

The festivities come two days after Mr Putin vowed at a lavish inauguration to deliver “victory” to Russians, embarking on a record-breaking fifth term with more power than ever.

Mr Putin’s 87-percent landslide victory in the presidential election was panned by most international observers and dismissed as rigged by opposition and rights groups.

Mr Putin has also upped his nuclear rhetoric, earlier this week ordering the Russian military to hold nuclear weapons drills involving the navy and troops based near Ukraine.

Last year Russia ditched its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and pulled out of a key arms reduction agreement with the United States.