How Western media reacted to the Victory Parade in Moscow

On May 9, the traditional Victory Parade was held on Red Square. For a celebration in the capital arrived leaders of seven foreign states. Vedomosti collected the media reaction to the Victory Parade and the speech of the Russian President.

Steve Rosenberg, BBC Russia Editor

“Traditionally, Russia uses Victory Day to demonstrate to the world the strength and invincibility of its army. But <...> this year the parade on Red Square was shortened. <...> The only tank on display was a T-34 from World War II, while the May 9 parade usually uses modern tanks.

In his address on Red Square, President [Владимир] Putin praised the Russian soldiers who are participating in what he still calls a special military operation in Ukraine. And he repeated that the West is to blame for this conflict and “a real war has been unleashed” against Russia.

Maxim Tucker, The Times

“Putin accused the West of “unleashing a war against Russia” and “creating a new cult of Nazism” through the destruction of Soviet memorials in Eastern Europe. The West has forgotten “who defeated the Nazis” in World War II, the president claims.

Although the parades in Moscow and St. Petersburg took place, they were canceled in at least 21 major cities due to security concerns. Applications for calling a taxi stopped working in the center of Moscow <...>. As infantry fighting vehicles and rocket launchers swept through the streets of Moscow during the 47-minute parade, it became obvious that the traditional symbol of Russian military power, tanks, was missing.”

Peter Sauer, The Guardian

“Speaking at the 78th annual celebration of the defeat of Nazi Germany on Red Square in Moscow, the Russian President said that the survival of the Russian people depended on the conflict in Ukraine. “Today, civilization is once again at a decisive, turning point. Again, a real war is unleashed against us,” Putin said in an angry speech that drew parallels between today’s fight against the “criminal regime” of Ukraine and the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. “We are proud of the participants of the special operation. The future of our people depends on you,” he said, standing on the podium on Red Square.

Putin also accused the West of “destroying traditional values” and promoting a “system of robbery and violence.” “The goal of our enemies, and this is nothing new, is to achieve the disintegration and destruction of our country,” the president said.

“For many years, Putin has used the steadily expanding celebration of Victory Day across the country to bolster national identity. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in the Great Patriotic War, and this holiday is still of great importance for many Russians.

On Tuesday, Putin hosted the leaders of many of his former Soviet neighbors at events to commemorate the victims of World War II, including the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. It became one of the highest turnouts in recent years.”

Maria Ilyushina, Robin Dixon, The Washington Post

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that a “real war” was being waged against Russia amid muted Victory Day celebrations on Tuesday, with many public events canceled for security reasons after <...> drone attacks on the Kremlin.