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On May 9, Russia celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. For Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin (70), the day is central. He is central to his vision of Russian identity. At the same time, he wants to show the nation that he is still strong and in control.
Only this time everything is different. Russia is not strong, it is trembling. The tension is palpable across the country. Victory Day parades were called off in six regions. The reason is security concerns.
Recent drone strikes and acts of sabotage on Russian soil have sparked panic in Russia. “The nervousness is greater than ever,” the British “Guardian” quoted an insider from the Moscow mayor’s office as saying about preparations for May 9.
Drone attack on the Kremlin alarms Putin
The Immortal Regiment, a hugely popular procession of people carrying photos of their relatives who fought in World War II, has been cancelled. Also, the usual fireworks displays will not be available in some places.
“In the current context, the cancellation of the parades is taken as another sign that things are going very badly,” Kremlin insider Abbas Galyamov, 50, who once wrote speeches for the president, told Echo Moskvy radio station.
The series of mysterious incidents reveals cracks in Putin’s facade of strength. Because even the most recent incidents seem to have upset the supposedly strongman in the Kremlin. He met with his Security Council to discuss the course of the celebrations. A highly unusual move. Red Square has been closed to the public for two weeks and streets are barricaded.
A year ago, on May 9, Putin wanted to announce victory over Ukraine, but nothing came of it. His troops are still fighting bitterly with the Ukrainian soldiers. A successful outcome of the “special operation” is not in sight. Important war material was destroyed or abandoned in Ukraine. Chances are that this will also be reflected in the parades. The glow fades.
Prigozhin goes crazy
Many soldiers have been killed or injured in the war. Some people wonder aloud whether the Kremlin’s cancellation of the parades is also intended to prevent people from taking to the streets with pictures of their relatives killed in Ukraine, thus giving a true picture of Russian war victims.
The unrest in the Kremlin is increased by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin (60). On Thursday, he blamed the Russian military leadership for the high casualties suffered by his fighters in Ukraine. He threatened to withdraw his troops from the embattled city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine on May 10, just a day after Putin’s victory parade in Moscow. A threat that the businessman will probably not carry out for the time being. If Prigozhin were to actually withdraw his fighters, who claim to have played a major role in the few successes of the Russian armed forces, it would be a serious blow to Putin’s plans for Ukraine.
On May 9, 2022, regarding Ukraine, Putin announced: “Victory will be ours, just like in 1945.” In view of the upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive, which has forced the Russians to build defenses on their own territory, this statement today seems almost embarrassing, as it reveals the parallel world in which Putin lives. Reality caught up with the Russian president a year later.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
