Vladimir Putin praises soldiers – and shows his drones for the first time

At the large military parade in Moscow on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the courage of the soldiers fighting in Ukraine for Russia. “We are proud of their courage and their determination, their unshakeness, which has always led us to victory,” Putin said on Friday in front of thousands of soldiers and around 20 foreign state and government heads on the red.

All of Russia is behind the offensive in Ukraine, said the Kremlin boss. “The whole country, society and the people support the participants of this special military operation,” he said. According to state media, there were also 1500 among the approximately 11,000 soldiers present who fought in Ukraine.

According to the information, soldiers from 13 countries took part in the parade, including North Korea, China, Vietnam, Myanmar and Egypt. “I wish you and all your soldiers all the best,” said Putin about several North Korean officers in uniform, as could be seen on pictures broadcast on state television.

In his speech on the occasion of May 9, Putin drew several parallels between the Second World War and the Russian offensive in Ukraine, which he ordered in February 2022. Russia “was and remains an indestructible barrier against Nazism, Russophobia and anti -Semitism,” he emphasized.

For the first time, the drones used in the Ukraine war were displayed. In the parade transmitted by television, several trucks rolled over the Red Square with the Orlan and combat drones of the type Lancet and the Iranian design Geran. The latter in particular are often used for attacks on destinations in Ukraine far behind the front.

In addition, the Russian military also presented tanks, armored troop transporters and reconnaissance vehicles, heavy Haubitzen, the modern aircraft systems S-400 and the nuclear missiles “Jars” before the eyes of international state guests.

The city was decorated with red flags. In addition to China’s head of state Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva were among the high -ranking guests from abroad. Representatives from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Vietnam, Armenia, Cuba and Venezuela were also seen in the stands.

Despite warnings from Brussels, the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was the only head of government from the EU. Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, who maintains good relationships with the Kremlin, was also present.

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj described the event in Moscow as the “parade of cynicism”. Putin had previously announced a three-day ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict on the occasion of the memorial celebrations. Kiev accused Russia of breaking it himself.

The EU Foreign Minister will meet on Fridays on consultations in the West Ukrainian city of LWIW. The Second World War ended 80 years ago through the surrender of the German Wehrmacht. In Western Europe, the event on May 8 is commemorated, in Russia due to the time shift on May 9th.