Putin accuses West of ‘untamed ambitions’ in Victory Day speech – National | 24CA News
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday advised his nation’s conventional Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square that the West’s “untamed ambitions, arrogance and impunity” are driving “a real war” towards Russia, whereas the Kremlin’s forces fired one other cruise missile barrage at Ukraine.
“Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point,” Putin mentioned on the annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. “A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland.”
Putin’s remarks got here simply hours after the Kremlin’s forces fired its newest barrage of cruise missiles at Ukraine, which Russia invaded greater than 14 months in the past in what it formally refers to as a “special military operation.”
Ukrainian authorities mentioned air defenses destroyed 23 of the 25 missiles that have been launched. The air power mentioned in a Telegram put up that eight Kalibr cruise missiles have been fired from carriers within the Black Sea towards the east and 17 from strategic plane.
Putin has repeatedly framed the struggle in Ukraine as a proxy battle with the West. The Kremlin’s official narrative of the struggle depicts an existential battle with the West, which in Moscow’s view is merely utilizing Ukraine as a software to destroy Russia, re-write its historical past and crush its conventional values. That model of occasions has dominated Russian state media protection of the struggle.
Putin praised troopers participating within the struggle in Ukraine and urged Russians to face collectively.
“Our heroic ancestors proved that there is nothing stronger, more powerful and more reliable than our unity. There is nothing in the world stronger than our love for the motherland,” Putin mentioned.
He blasted “Western globalist elites” that “harp about their exclusivity, pit people against each other, divide society and provoke bloody conflicts and coups, sow hatred, Russophobia.”
But there have been indicators the Ukraine struggle is taking a toll on Russia. Military analysts say the Russian navy has struggled with ammunition provides, troop morale and poor management and group. The battle largely turned a struggle of attrition over the winter after Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022 got here up brief.
The parade this 12 months appeared shorter and way more pared-back than typical. Only some 8,000 troops marched in Red Square this 12 months _ the bottom quantity since 2008. Even the parade in 2020, the 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured some 13,000 troopers, and final 12 months, 11,000 troops took half.
Unlike in earlier years, there was no fly-over of navy jets, and fewer gear was on present within the parade. The occasion, unusually, lasted lower than an hour.
Russia additionally enacted a serious safety clampdown for the commemorations. Authorities curbed using drones and ride-sharing companies in Moscow and even jet skis on the canals of St. Petersburg.
Russian media counted 24 Russian cities that canceled May 9 navy parades _ the staple of celebrations throughout Russia _ for the primary time in years. Regional officers blamed unspecified “security concerns” or vaguely referred to “the current situation” for the restrictions and cancellations. It wasn’t clear whether or not their selections have been taken in coordination with the Kremlin.
Last week, Russia was alarmed by two Ukrainian drones that in murky circumstances reportedly flew into the center of Moscow underneath the quilt of darkness and reached the Kremlin earlier than being shot down. Other drones mentioned to be fired by Ukraine have additionally hit Russian oil depots close to the border.
The Immortal Regiment processions, by which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of family who died or served in World War II _ one other pillar of the vacation _ have additionally been canceled in a number of cities. Some speculated, that the explanation for this was not safety however the truth that Russians may convey portraits of family who died in Ukraine to these processions, illustrating the size of Russia’s losses within the drawn-out battle.
Russian troopers march towards Red Square to attend a Victory Day navy parade in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, marking the 78th anniversary of the top of World War II.
AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
The Red Square visitor listing was additionally mild amid Putin’s broad diplomatic isolation over the struggle. Initially, just one international chief was anticipated to attend this 12 months’s parade _ Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. That was yet one more international visitor than final 12 months, when no leaders went.
At the final minute on Monday, officers introduced that the leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have been heading to Moscow as nicely.
The cruise missiles directed at Ukraine have been launched hours earlier than European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the pinnacle of the European Union’s govt department, arrived in Kyiv.
Ukraine is eager to hitch the European Union, however membership has many necessities and continues to be a good distance off. Ukraine can be hoping to hitch NATO, after shifting near the Western navy alliance through the struggle with Russia.
In the most recent assist from a NATO member, the U.S. was anticipated to announce Tuesday that it’ll present $1.2 billion extra in long-term navy support to Ukraine to additional bolster its air defenses.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
