Preparing for the Most Magnificent Victory Day Celebration Amidst Ongoing Conflict with Ukraine (Regarding Putin)

Rewritten Article:

Three years into the ongoing offensive, Russia gears up for its Military Parade on Red Square, marking the anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat. However, the shadow of the conflict in Ukraine hangs heavy over this year's event.

Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022, aiming to take the country in a matter of days, but has since found itself embroiled in a grueling conflict that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands.

Despite calls for peace from US President Donald Trump, Putin continues to wage war. The Kremlin has ordered a three-day truce on Ukraine to coincide with the parade, a move Kyiv has denounced as a ceasefire "just for the parade."

Ukraine, which has retaliated with drone attacks on Russia during the conflict, has distanced itself from any responsibility for what happens in Russia. Some countries have reportedly approached Ukraine for safety assurances for their leaders attending the parade.

Three days before the parade, Ukraine launched over 100 drones at Russia overnight, targeting Moscow and forcing major airports to close for hours.

In spite of the tension, authorities promise that this year's commemorations will be the "grandest" yet. During Putin's 25-year rule, the Kremlin has transformed May 9 into a national holiday celebrating statehood and patriotism, with a grand military parade on Red Square followed by Putin's annual address.

Putin has used the narrative of WWII to justify his military actions in Ukraine, vowing to "de-Nazify" the country and likening the current conflict to the Soviet war effort. He has repeatedly accused the West of disregarding Russia's achievements in WWII and argued that the Soviet Union was the war's main victor.

Ahead of the celebrations, Putin praised the Russian nation for their role in defeating the Nazis, stating, "All the peoples of the Soviet Union put in a huge input... But, of course, because of its size, the Russian Federation, of course, put in the maximum contribution to this victory."

World War II is remembered in Russia as the "Great Patriotic War," beginning with Germany's surprise invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 and ending with Germany's capitulation in 1945. The period between 1939 and 1941, when the Soviet Union had a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany and invaded Poland, is glossed over in official history books.

The war had a catastrophic impact on the Soviet Union, resulting in over 20 million civilian and military deaths. Throughout his rule, Putin has tapped into this national trauma, making May 9 Russia's most important public holiday and championing his army as defenders against Fascism.

Authorities banned criticism of the military shortly after the Ukraine offensive began and have since charged thousands in the biggest domestic crackdown in Russia's post-Soviet history. School textbooks introduced amid the offensive refer to Ukraine as an "ultra-nationalist state," likening it to the Nazi occupation regime that ruled the country between 1941 and 1944.

Ukraine has criticized the event, saying it has "nothing to do with the victory over Nazism" and accusing those marching on Red Square of complicity in crimes against Ukrainians.

Leaders of around 20 countries, including China's Xi Jinping, have accepted invitations to join this year's celebration, according to the Kremlin. Moscow has not ruled out the participation of North Korean troops for the first time on Red Square. The European Union has warned its members not to travel to Moscow for the event, but Slovakia's prime minister, Robert Fico, has defied Brussels and vowed to attend.

Moscow's Victory Day parade featured only one tank last year, a stark reminder of Russia's "catastrophic losses" on the battlefield. Authorities in some parts of Russia, including the southern region of Krasnodar, have canceled May 9 parades due to fears of possible Ukrainian sabotage.

Incorporated Enrichment Data:- In the lead-up to the parade, there are heightened security concerns, with some cities having to scale back celebrations due to drone and missile threats. Moscow, however, is preparing the "grandest" parade to counter perceptions of vulnerability.- The war has intensified the parade's role as a propaganda tool, with Russia tying WWII imagery to its Ukraine campaign and using slogans like "We can do it again" and the St. George’s ribbon, which has become a symbol of the invasion. The event reinforces narratives framing the conflict as a continuation of the Soviet Union's anti-fascist struggle.- Some foreign leaders are expected to attend the Moscow parade, but the war has limited participation compared to pre-2022 levels, reflecting global skepticism toward Russia’s motives. Ukraine's President Zelensky dismissed the ceasefire proposal as a move to "create a pleasant atmosphere" for Putin.- The proposed truce may aim to regroup forces for offensives in Sumy and Kharkiv, suggesting the parade’s timing is strategically linked to battlefield logistics. Ukraine's recent sea drone strike on a Russian Su-30 jet near Novorossiysk underscores ongoing threats that complicate ceremonial military displays.

Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and drone attacks from Ukraine, Russia is planning a grand Military Parade in Moscow on May 9, 2025, to celebrate the anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat.
The Kremlin has ordered a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the parade, a move that Kyiv has denounced as a mere tactical ploy for the parade.
Some foreign leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, have accepted invitations to join this year's celebrations, but participation is below pre-2022 levels due to global skepticism toward Russia’s motives.
The war in Ukraine has intensified the parade's role as a propaganda tool, with Russia using WWII imagery to justify its military actions and framing the conflict as a continuation of the Soviet Union's anti-fascist struggle.
The proposed truce may be a strategic move to regroup forces for offensives in Sumy and Kharkiv, suggesting the parade’s timing is linked to battlefield logistics. Ukraine's recent sea drone strike on a Russian Su-30 jet near Novorossiysk underscores ongoing threats that complicate ceremonial military displays.