CEREMONY OF MAY 9, 2023 PUTIN DENOUNCED

A WAR ORCHESTRATED BY THE WEST

AGAINST RUSSIA

Vladimir Putin believes that his country is still under attack. "A war has been launched against our homeland," said the Russian president in front of thousands of soldiers in Red Square, Moscow.

These commemorations were an opportunity for him to draw a parallel between the Second World War and the Ukrainian conflict. As during the Second World War, "civilization is again at a turning point", believes Vladimir Putin, who called for "victory" for his troops in the conflict in Ukraine.

For him, the future of Russia depends on this military victory, which is currently still lacking, more than a year after the invasion of the neighboring country.

"Nothing is more important right now than your military task. The security of the country today rests on you, the future of our state and our people depends on you," he said at the address of its armed forces. “You fulfill your military missions with honor, you fight for Russia,” the former KGB officer continued, before launching: “For Russia, for our valiant armed forces, for victory! Hooray!”

This seriousness, like the appearance of the word "war" in the president's lexicon, responds to a certain logic: Not only is it a war that is raging in Ukraine, but it has reached the national territory like the attack on drones over the Kremlin.

In addition, this annual parade comes as Yevgeny Prigojine, leader of the Wagner group, continues to openly criticize the strategy of the Russian army and the military hierarchy, which he accuses of not providing enough ammunition. He notably accused soldiers of the Russian regular army on Tuesday of having fled their positions in Bakhmout, the epicenter of the fighting in eastern Ukraine, and accused the state of being incapable of defending Russia.

The Heads of State or Government of seven countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States made the trip to Moscow: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Belarus. In 2022, there were none. Among observers, some saw in the invitation of these leaders to the official platform the best possible protection for Mr. Putin

Russia threatened with 'collapse' and 'destruction', Putin says

In Moscow, the numbers engaged (10,000 men) approach those mobilized in 2022, which were down by a third compared to the previous year. On the other hand, no tanks or heavy equipment were presented, with the exception of the historic T-34 tank, and the air component of the parade was canceled. In the Republic of Tuva, in Siberia, horses have replaced tanks.

Across the country, the Immortal Regiment parade, popular with Russians, has been canceled; the same goes for military parades in around twenty cities, sometimes far from the Ukrainian border. Most have highlighted security issues, but the approach of a possible Ukrainian counterattack also plays a role.

A Violent Charge Against the West

For Russia, there is no hostile people neither in the East nor in the West, we wish a peaceful, free and stable future, insisted the Russian president.

“We have repelled international terrorism, the world is at a crossroads. Any ideology of superiority is repugnant, criminal, deadly. asserted the Russian leader without flinching, continuing his rhetoric opposed to the West.

According to Putin, it is the "globalized Western elites" who are at the root of the tensions between the West and Russia. The Head of State accuses these elites of "pitting peoples against each other, dividing societies, provoking bloody conflicts". For him, "their goal is to bring about the collapse and destruction of our country".