VLADIMIR Putin showed off nuclear missile launchers, tanks and thousands of soldiers ready for war this morning ahead of his triumphant Victory Day event.
The 71-year-old Russian tyrant has already had to suspend most of the celebrations on May 9th – the holiest day in the Russian calendar – but Moscow’s will continue.
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Before the patriotic event, Russia’s fearsome intercontinental nuclear missiles were pulled through the streets of the capital with thousands of corresponding soldiers.
The real events will be held on Thursday under intense security, with reports suggesting Moscow’s central spectacle will be scaled back.
Victory Day parades are held across Russia as a way to celebrate the country’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
It’s a way to showcase the power of the Russian military machine and drum up national pride – led by a giant parade in Moscow’s Red Square, overseen by Putin.
What is Russia’s Victory Day?
ON May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day. But what is this?
This year marks the 79th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II.
The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what Russians call the “Great Patriotic War” – more than any other country.
Victory Day is one of the most important holidays in Russia.
For Putin, it is an opportunity to project to his people an image of Russia as a powerful nation of victors, positioned on the right side of history in the defeat of fascism.
The unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany came into effect at 11:01 pm on May 8, 1945, marked as “Victory in Europe Day” by France, Britain and the United States.
In Moscow it was already May 9th, which became the “Victory Day” of the Soviet Union.
Soviet leader Josef Stalin declared a holiday, and the first victory parade in Red Square, featuring captured German insignia, was held on June 24, 1945.
Under Putin, Victory Day has increasingly become a powerful display not only of marching battalions but also of Russia’s latest weaponry, including warplanes, tanks and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.
WAVE OF CANCELLATIONS
Last week, Putin was forced to cancel parades across Russia over apparent fears of Ukrainian kamikaze drone attacks.
Many regional parades have been canceled along with their fireworks displays.
Hundreds of “Immortal Regiment” marches – when Russians carry photos of their war veteran relatives – have also been canceled for security reasons.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, parades have been scaled back due to reports that tanks and equipment are in short supply and fears of possible attacks.
The regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, Pskov, Ryazan, Kursk and Saratov canceled large-scale events, despite not all of them being close to Ukraine.
One of the fears was also that these events could have been hijacked by anti-war protesters.
In some other regions, such as Syktyvkar, fireworks were canceled and in Voronezh concerts were aborted.
In Rostov and Voronezh, some parades have been cancelled, while others may take place without spectators – and more cancellations are expected.
Last year, Victory Day was also canceled in several Russian territories, with a scaled-down event in Moscow that featured almost no heavy military equipment.
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Local governors – like this year – cited “safety concerns.”
Putin only spoke for 10 minutes and the entire event ended in less than an hour.
Rumors were circulating that the parades were canceled due to a lack of tanks to put in the parades.
PUTIN SLAMS in the UK
It comes as a furious Putin criticizes UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron’s comments that British missiles could be used to attack targets on Russian soil.
During a trip to Kiev last week, Cameron said Ukraine has the right to attack inside Russia “in the same way as [Moscow] is attacking inside Ukraine.”
In response, Putin’s puppet spokesman Dmitry Peskov promised that his comments could “endanger the entire system of European security architecture”.
Peskov added: “The Kremlin sees Cameron’s statements about Kiev’s right to use British weapons to attack the Russian Federation as a direct escalation.”
It comes after The Sun revealed that British-made bombs will be used by US fighter jets as part of plans to boost Ukraine’s air force.
The first of the allies’ long-promised F-16 fighter jets is expected to arrive in July.
The UK has promised to arm the jets with £30,000 Paveway IV bombs, guided by lasers and GPS.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the F-16 deal as a “groundbreaking moment” in the war against Russia.
Speaking to The Sun’s defense editor Jerome Starkey on our new World At War programme, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We were the first to deploy anti-tank missiles.
“The first to send main battle tanks, the first to send missiles with permission to use them properly.
“And now we will be the first to provide glide bombs for these (F-16) aircraft.”
Shapps also criticized US President Joe Biden for telling Ukraine not to attack inside Russia.
He called Biden’s demands that Kiev halt attacks on Putin’s oil refineries “ridiculous.”
Mr Shapps said: “You cannot say to Ukraine, ‘you cannot attack the infrastructure of the country that is attacking you’.
“I mean, that would be ridiculous.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
