"Putin used Russia's Victory Day celebrations to insist that Moscow would triumph in Ukraine, even as the Kremlin staged one of the most subdued and heavily secured parades seen on Red Square in decades. In a speech laced with familiar anti-Western rhetoric, the Russian president claimed his forces were confronting not merely Ukraine, but the combined might of NATO - a narrative the Kremlin has increasingly relied upon as the war drags into a grinding conflict of attrition."
"For the first time since 2007, no tanks, missile launchers or heavy military hardware rolled through Red Square, reducing the spectacle largely to marching formations and ceremonial displays. The omission will inevitably fuel speculation over both battlefield losses and fears of Ukrainian long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory. Security across Moscow reached extraordinary levels."
"Authorities reportedly shut down mobile internet access and restricted messaging services in central districts before the ceremony began, while the entire event lasted just 45 minutes - unusually brief by Kremlin standards. The combination of tighter communications controls and the shortened parade duration signaled heightened concern over disruption and monitoring during the celebration."
"Perhaps the most striking image came with the reported participation of North Korean troops, who marched in a separate column after previously fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. Their presence underscored the widening international dimensions of the conflict and the Kremlin’s reliance on external support as the war continues."
Putin used Victory Day celebrations to assert that Russian forces would achieve victory in Ukraine, framing the conflict as resistance against NATO as well as Ukraine. The parade on Red Square was heavily secured and unusually subdued, with no tanks, missile launchers, or other heavy military hardware appearing for the first time since 2007. The event lasted about 45 minutes, shorter than typical Kremlin parades. Authorities reportedly restricted mobile internet access and messaging services in central districts before the ceremony. The absence of heavy equipment and the heightened security fueled speculation about battlefield losses and concerns about Ukrainian long-range strikes. North Korean troops reportedly participated in a separate column after fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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