“I address our armed forces: you are fighting for the motherland, for your future,” Putin said in a speech ahead of a military parade in Moscow’s Red Square commemorating victory over the Nazis in World War II.
“All plans are being implemented. The result will be achieved, there is no doubt about it,” Putin said after the traditional military parade in Red Square on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
#In Photos l Victory Day
People mark the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two in Mariupol
Participants hold up a giant flag of Saint George during a ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II over the course of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine.
Pavel Klimov/REUTERS
People mark the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two in Mariupol
A woman holds up the portrait of a Red Army soldier to take part in the Immortal Regiment event during a ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, in the course of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine.
Alexander Ermochenko/REUTERS
People mark the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two in Mariupol
A service member of the pro-Russian troops stands guard during a ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, in the course of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine.
Alexander Ermochenko/REUTERS
People mark the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two in Mariupol
Participants of the ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, during the Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine.
Alexander Ermochenko/REUTERS
RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-ANNIVERSARY-VICTORY-DAY
People carry portraits of their relatives, World War II soldiers, as they take part in the Immortal Regiment march on Red Square in central Moscow.
Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP
RUSSIA-HISTORY-WWII-ANNIVERSARY-VICTORY-DAY
Russian President Vladimir Putin carries a portrait of his father Vladimir Spiridonovich as he takes part in the Immortal Regiment march on Red Square in central Moscow on May 9, 2022. – Russia marks the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany during world war II.
Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP
Russia’s ambassador to Poland Sergey Andreev is covered in red substance thrown by protesters as he came to celebrate Victory day at the Soviet Military Cemetery in Warsaw
Russia’s ambassador to Poland Sergey Andreev is covered in a red substance thrown by protesters as he came to celebrate Victory Day at the Soviet Military Cemetery to mark the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, in Warsaw, Poland.
Slawomir Kaminski/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS
Rescuers remove a woman from debris after a school building was hit as a result of shelling, in the village of Bilohorivka
Emergency services help a man trapped in rubble after a school building was hit as a result of shelling, in the town of Bilohorivka, Lugansk.
Reuters
The president made these statements despite not having managed to take Donbas after more than two months of military offensive in Ukraine.
“If there was a single opportunity to solve this (Donbas) problem by other peaceful means, we would, of course, take it, but they did not leave us this option, they simply did not give it,” Putin said. “A totally unacceptable threat was building, right on our borders,” he said, again accusing the neighboring country of neo-Nazism and calling the offensive a “preemptive response.”
It was the “only right decision” possible, he added. The security forces wore the letter “Z” on their right shoulders, which has become a symbol of supporters of the offensive in Ukraine, since it is painted on the vehicles of the units in the conflict.
Moments earlier in his Victory Day speech, Putin accused the West and NATO of having prepared an “invasion of Russia’s historical territories, including Crimea”, for which he had no choice but to carry out a “pre-emptive” attack. ” in Ukraine.