Russia Marks WWII Victory Amid Ukraine War and Global Tensions

Russia commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany on May 9 with a grand military parade in Moscow’s Red Square. President Vladimir Putin presided over the ceremony, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders from Brazil, Serbia, Slovakia, and several Asian, African, and former Soviet states. The event, deeply symbolic for Russians, highlighted Moscow’s effort to project unity and global support despite Western isolation.

Putin, Russia’s longest-serving leader since Stalin, addressed the nation amid heightened tensions from the ongoing war in Ukraine. Despite a proposed 72-hour ceasefire for the occasion, both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of violations. Ukrainian drones struck the Russian capital in recent days, disrupting air travel and raising concerns about the parade's security.

Putin emphasized the historic alliance between Russia and China, recalling the joint sacrifices of both nations during World War II. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in the war, while Chinese sources claim 35 million casualties from Japanese aggression between 1937 and 1945, including the Nanjing Massacre.

Military contingents from 13 countries, including China, participated in the parade. North Korea’s representation was unclear, though it is known to have supported Russia in the Ukraine conflict.

In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized the parade, calling it a “parade of bile and lies,” urging Western allies to stand firm against Russia, which continues to occupy about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

As the war in Ukraine nears its third year with no end in sight, the symbolism of Victory Day is both a rallying cry for the Kremlin and a flashpoint in a deeply divided geopolitical landscape.