“That’s not true. That’s nonsense,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, according to the Interfax agency. When asked whether President Vladimir Putin could declare war on Ukraine on “Victory Day” over Hitler’s Germany on May 9, Peskov also said: “No. That’s nonsense.”
Since Russia’s attack on Ukraine at the end of February, the Kremlin has always referred to the fighting in the neighboring country as a “special military operation”.
“Special operation” falters before the important May 9th
Several media had picked up speculations that Putin could call for a general mobilization of soldiers and reservists on Monday in order to press ahead with the faltering offensive in Ukraine. On May 9, Russia traditionally celebrates the end of the Second World War with a large military parade on Red Square in Moscow. Putin will give a speech that is being eagerly awaited this year.
Putin could incorporate eastern Ukrainian areas
Many experts originally assumed that the head of the Kremlin would then want to celebrate successes in Ukraine. Putin names the alleged “denazification” of the neighboring country as one of the mission’s most important goals. Now, however, some observers are assuming that the fighting will intensify. Others think it is more likely that Putin could declare that the eastern Ukrainian separatist areas of Luhansk and Donetsk will be annexed to Russia.
Russia also wants to present new weapons this year. “For the first time, modern Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers with a caliber of 122 millimeters and equipped with automatic control and fire control systems will roll across Red Square in the motorized column,” Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Wednesday, according to a report by the Interfax agency.
Military parades are planned in 28 Russian cities on Victory Day. 11,000 soldiers and 131 military vehicles are said to be on display at the country’s largest march in Moscow. In addition, 77 helicopters and airplanes are to take part.
The Tornado-G is a modern weapon system that has been introduced into the armed forces since 2012. It is intended to replace the Grad and Smertsch rocket launchers, which date back to Soviet times and are currently also being used in the war against Ukraine.
Source: Nachrichten
