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Russia marks WWII triumph
Moscow — Countries crossed Europe marked the 80th day connected Thursday of VE, oregon Victory successful Europe Day, celebrating the infinitesimal successful 1945 astatine which warring successful World War II ended connected the continent. But acknowledgment to the clip quality betwixt Russia and Western Europe, Russia holds its Victory Day parade connected May 9 each year, and CBS News was invited to witnesser the spectacle successful Moscow connected Friday.
The parade was months successful the planning, and the preparations and information measures taken close up of it closed down cardinal Moscow for respective days earlier the lawsuit itself.
When Friday arrived, Moscow enactment connected the amusement — an extravaganza of Russian troops from each subdivision of the subject marching successful unison, on with soldiers from the erstwhile Soviet Republics and a dizzying array of weaponry.
In this excavation photograph distributed by the Russian authorities quality bureau Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin sits adjacent to Chinese President Xi Jinping and different overseas leaders during the Victory Day subject parade astatine Red Square, successful cardinal Moscow, May 9, 2025.
VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV/POOL/AFP/Getty
There was adjacent a impermanent contingent from China, Russia's progressively adjacent ally. In the viewing stand, President Vladimir Putin sat close adjacent to his impermanent of honor, Chinese President Xi Jinping. Brazil's leader, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was besides successful the crowd.
On 1 level, the parade was a solemnisation of Russia's large triumph implicit Nazi Germany successful World War II.
But it was besides governmental theatre of the highest bid — with a weapons drive-by to punctual the satellite that Russia is inactive a atomic superpower.
On the 80th day of the Soviet Union's triumph implicit Nazi Germany, Russia commemorated the extremity of the Second World War successful 1945 with a ample subject parade connected Red Square, May 9, 2025.
Ulf Mauder/picture alliance/Getty
There were hugs and handshakes, also, with North Korean subject officials, to amusement the Russian person isn't squeamish astir his supporters.
In his speech, Putin alluded to Ukraine, acknowledging that Russia is going done a "difficult, watershed infinitesimal successful its history," but giving small successful the mode of specifics astir what helium calls his country's "special subject operation."
"All of you connected beforehand lines, are our heroes," helium said, addressing Russian forces.
The show was meant to reenforce that message, and to reassure the Russian radical that the pridefulness and morale of their subject has not been crushed by the grinding struggle connected Russia's occidental border.
Over the past 3 years, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers person been killed, and the warring shows nary signs of letting up.
In this excavation photograph distributed by the Russian authorities quality bureau Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin leaves Red Square aft the Victory Day subject parade successful cardinal Moscow, May 9, 2025.
GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP/Getty
So, the parade was a solemnisation of triumph implicit an aged enemy, but besides a distraction from the information that immoderate subject triumph implicit the caller enemy, looks a agelong mode off.
No 1 whitethorn person been much relieved that the lawsuit concluded peacefully than President Putin himself, arsenic Ukrainian attacks — adjacent connected Moscow — are a precise existent threat. Ukrainian onslaught drones forced airports astir the Russian superior to adjacent this week.
Leigh Kiniry contributed to this report.
Elizabeth Palmer is CBS News' elder overseas correspondent. She is based successful the CBS News London Bureau, and reports connected large events crossed Europe and the Middle East. Palmer was antecedently based successful Tokyo, and earlier that successful Moscow, for CBS News.
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