Putin suddenly speaks of “war” and his “cook” rages – that was the “Victory Day”

On this year’s “Victory Day” in Russia, many things were different, so different. But something else stood out, a small detail: during his speech, Vladimir Putin described the fighting in Ukraine as a “war” for the first time.

That’s new. Until recently, Moscow talked about a “special military operation”.

Victory Parade

On May 9, Russia celebrates “Victory Day” – the victory over Hitler’s Germany in the “Great Patriotic War”, as World War II is called in Russia. About 27 million people died on the side of the Soviet Union, almost all families had to mourn corresponding victims.

Usually those who attend the pompous celebrations in Moscow can watch military parades, listen to speeches and honor war heroes. But this year everything was a little different. The country’s highest non-religious holiday has become a symbol to the foreign observer of how much pressure Russia is under in Ukraine.

During his tenure, Putin began to exploit and reinterpret “Victory Day”. In this way he built up a kind of war cult around the Russian army. The last remaining Soviet veterans are paraded in uniform and decorated with numerous medals near Putin. The power of the army is celebrated by displaying the latest tanks and the most powerful jets.

This year, however, the military parade was drastically slimmed down. Some 8,000 soldiers stepped across Red Square in panic – including those who have fought in Ukraine in recent months. Except for the legendary T-34, no main battle tanks were deployed, as they are needed for the offensive war in Ukraine. In addition, only a few historic Soviet-era tanks rolled across the square. The air show was canceled altogether – for security reasons, as Moscow stated.

Unlike last year, foreign heads of state and government sat next to Putin in the VIP gallery – all from former Soviet republics: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Armenia. All states that are heavily dependent on Moscow.

The presence of these presidents is not unimportant, because if Putin could not bring victory to his people, he could at least demonstrate that Russia is not completely isolated internationally. A sign in and out. At the same time, the state guests present also seemed like a warning, an expression of Putin’s aim for a Greater Russia – which, if it were up to him, would also include Ukraine.

Putin’s speech and the “war”

Putin gave a speech during the parade. He spoke of “international terrorism” that Russia had fought back and that Russia was still willing to “ensure the safety of the Russian-born population in eastern Ukraine.”

“Today, civilization is once again at a crucial turning point,” Putin said in front of thousands of soldiers in Red Square. And then he adds:

For the first time, Putin spoke of a war in the context of the fighting in Ukraine. So far, Moscow has only spoken of a “special military operation”.

The Russian portal Asafov explains the difference between a “military special operation” and war in the context of Russian propaganda So:

Since the beginning of the Russian attack, Putin has used the fight against Ukrainian Nazis as a reason for war. In addition, the Russian government refers to the right of self-defense, because the “globalist elites” in the West and NATO would threaten Russia and the Russian-born population in Ukraine. While these claims are mere propaganda, many Russians share this worldview, and polls show that Russia’s main battle in Ukraine is against the Nazis and NATO.

The Russian propaganda portal goes on to say that Russian troops in Ukraine would not bomb peaceful cities either. But only “military facilities would be attacked”.

The Russian portal closes with the statement:

What will change if Putin suddenly speaks of a “real war” against Russia?

That changes the word choice “war”

For the first time nothing changes. At most, Putin’s choice of words underlines how tainted Russia’s sense of great power is and how much the situation in Ukraine needs the Russian president to explain.

Putin portrays his country as a victim under attack and forced to defend itself. Putin’s statement to his people: There is another “patriotic” war of Russia against fascism. However, he has not declared war on Ukraine.

According to the Hague Agreement, however, not only a legal declaration of war applies, but also a factual one. Nevertheless, a formal declaration of war is often avoided and a euphemism such as “military special operation” is used instead. Also because, according to the legal definition, a war can only be ended by a peace treaty.

Prigozhin inside

But not only Putin, but also his “cook” and head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, gave a speech. Almost at the same time as Putin – but not in Moscow, but via video message. He scolded Moscow:

He even accused the Russian troops of desertion. While Putin praised his army’s willingness to make sacrifices, Prigozhin rumored that Russian soldiers had fled their positions during heavy fighting around the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. “Today one of the Department of Defense units escaped from one of our flanks.”

The Russian mercenary group Wagner has also not yet received the ammunition promised by the Russian Ministry of Defense for eastern Ukraine.

Prigozhin concluded with the statement. The main enemy is not only the Ukrainian armed forces, but also the bureaucrats in Moscow.

Possibly bad propaganda for Putin.