On a day steeped in historical symbolism, Russia recently marked its 79th Victory Day with a parade showcasing both military grandeur and stern rhetoric from President Vladimir Putin. Victory Day, the country’s most significant secular holiday, commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.
President Putin led the parade across Red Square in Moscow, using the occasion to hail Russian forces in Ukraine and to deliver a pointed message to the West. “Victory Day unites all generations,” Putin declared, amidst flurries of snow, reminiscent of the country’s perseverance against the harshest conditions.
The Russian leader did not shy away from evoking nuclear deterrence, a signal of the heightened tensions between Russia and Western powers. “Russia will do everything to prevent global confrontation, but will not allow anyone to threaten us,” Putin asserted. “Our strategic forces are in combat readiness,” he added.
About 9,000 troops, including approximately 1,000 who participated in the Ukraine conflict, paraded. Despite the presence of foreign dignitaries, several Western ambassadors were notably absent.
Putin’s speech was peppered with references to historical conflicts, drawing a parallel between the fight against Nazi Germany and the current operations in Ukraine. He accused the West of “fueling regional conflicts, inter-ethnic and inter-religious strife,” and cast his country as a bulwark against such forces.
Putin often recounts the story of his father, wounded during the Nazi siege of Leningrad, and the family hardships endured – stories that parallel the nation’s collective memory of sacrifice and resilience.
Russia’s portrayal of the Ukraine conflict taps into this historical wellspring, with Putin and other officials citing the “denazification” of Ukraine as a justification for their military actions. These claims have been widely rejected by Kyiv, its Western allies, and historians, especially given the background of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The invocation of WWII narratives serves a broader purpose for the Kremlin, weaving a connection between the Soviet Union’s past glories and its current ambitions. “It’s the continuous self-identification with the USSR as the victor of Nazism and the lack of any other strong legitimacy that forced the Kremlin to declare ‘denazification’ as the goal of the war,” noted Nikolay Epplee, as reported.
Relevant articles:
– Russia attacks Ukraine’s power grid on day country celebrates defeat of Nazism in World War II , PBS NewsHour, 05/09/2024
– Amid pomp and propaganda, Russia holds Victory Day military parade as war rumbles on, CNBC, 05/09/2024
– Russia celebrates victory in World War II at Victory Day parade, BreakingNews.ie, 05/09/2024
– Moscow children celebrate ‘victory’ amid patriotic education drive, Yahoo News UK, 05/09/2024
– Putin says nuclear forces ‘always’ on alert in Victory Day speech, Yahoo Singapore News, 05/07/2024