Russia's annual Victory Day parade on May 9 was a depressing event. Putin did attend and gave a 10-minute speech where he mostly ranted about nazis. He also said "A real war has been unleashed against our motherland,” as if Russia were the one attacked. A parade of about 8000 military from various branches walked by. Noticeably, regular forces were absent and instead teenage cadets took their place. There was no flypast, as concerns over Ukrainian (or more likely, Russian partisans) drones forced that cancellation. And only one tank was seen, a T-34 relic from World War II. The whole sorry spectacle lasted around 30-40 minutes.
Source: Moscow Times
While the military parade passed off without incident, Russia’s celebrations to mark the 78th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazism have been muted because of heightened security concerns following a drone attack on the Kremlin last week and intense fighting in Ukraine ahead of an imminent counter-offensive by Kyiv’s forces.
The Kremlin has traditionally used Victory Day — a national holiday — for bombastic events that promote patriotic unity and showcase the country’s military might.
But military parades have been canceled in over 20 Russian cities this year and not a single Immortal Regiment march — held in memory of those killed in World War II and usually attended by millions — will take place.
Tellingly, they didn't allow the march, as allowing parents to show their dead sons and husbands this year might have produced an "unwelcome incident."
The military parade across Red Square featured thousands of Russian troops and equipment, including Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system and the S-400 surface-to-air missile system, but it was noticeably smaller than in previous years.
The only tank to appear was a World War II-era T-34 and the part of the parade involving military vehicles lasted less than five minutes.
About 8,000 military personnel marched across Red Square, the fewest since 2008, according to calculations by independent media outlet Agentstvo.
Ordinary Russians took this embarrassment in stride though.
“This is weak. There are no tanks,” said Yelena Orlova, watching the vehicles rumble down Moscow’s Novy Arbat avenue after leaving Red Square. “We’re upset, but that’s all right; it will be better in the future.”
No flypast. No planes or helicopters, and just one very old tank.
Ukrainian bloggers ridiculed the sad spectacle unmercifully, of course.
And a big thumb's up from a former U.S. General for Ukraine's Ministry of Trolling...er, Defense.
