What is Russia planning on May 9?

Ukraine fears "gift to Putin" - Scholz sends him an announcement from Berlin

Created: 05/09/2022 05:49

By: Patrick Huljina

May 9th is one of the most important public holidays in Russia.

Against the background of the Ukraine war, the "Day of Victory" is particularly in focus.

Moscow - In Russia, May 9th is traditionally celebrated as "Victory Day".

It is one of the most important holidays in the country.

It commemorates the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Against the background of the Ukraine war, the historic date is even more important this year.

The world looks to Moscow.

Will President Vladimir Putin escalate the conflict in Ukraine at the military parade on Red Square?

What is Russia planning?

Ukraine war: May 9th in Russia - all news about the military parade and Putin's speech up to date

The military parade on May 9 is likely to become a kind of demonstration of power by the Russian army.

11,000 soldiers will deploy in Moscow.

There will also be military parades in many other cities on Monday.

Hundreds of thousands of patriotic onlookers are expected.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Iskander missiles used in Ukraine will be on display in Moscow.

Battle tanks such as the most modern type T-14, the air defense systems S-400, Buk-M3 and Tor-M2, combat robots of the Uran-9 type and ICBMs that can be equipped with nuclear warheads will also be on display.

Fighter jets, long-range bombers and the Ilyushin Il-80, known as the “doomsday plane”, are to be seen at an air show.

In the sky over Red Square, eight Russian fighter jets are said to form the letter "Z", the symbol for the military operation in Ukraine.

The "Z" stands for "Za Pobedu - For Victory".

Ukraine war: Putin speech expected at military parade on May 9th

Kremlin chief Putin will deliver a much-anticipated speech.

With regard to the Ukraine war, the Russian President was confident of victory on Sunday (May 8) and drew parallels with the Second World War.

"Like 1945, victory will be ours," Putin declared.

"Today, like their ancestors, our soldiers fight shoulder to shoulder to liberate their homeland from Nazi filth." Russia justifies its war of aggression in Ukraine with the intention of "demilitarizing" and "denazifying" the neighboring country.

Vladimir Putin during a speech in Moscow on "Victory Day" in 2019. (Archive image) © Alexander Zemlianichenko/dpa

Ukraine War: What is Putin planning on May 9th?

Scholz plain text direction Kremlin

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) emphasized in his television speech on Sunday evening (May 8) that he was deeply convinced that Russia would not win the war.

Ukraine will survive.

"Freedom and security will triumph - just as freedom and security triumphed over bondage, violence and dictatorship 77 years ago."

In Ukraine, increased attacks are feared around the Russian holiday on May 9th.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of air strikes in his video address on Friday (May 6).

"I ask all our citizens - and especially these days - not to ignore the air alert," said the head of state.

"Please, this is your life, the life of your children." The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, also warned of "rocket attacks in all parts of the country".

A curfew was ordered for the cities of Odessa and Poltava close to the front.

In Mariupol it is assumed that Russia wants to take over the steelworks before the military parade.

According to information from Kyiv, the last remaining civilians were taken out of the Azov steelworks on Saturday.

Should the steelworks fall, the Russians would have taken the strategically important port city entirely, which would be an important military success for Moscow.

"The enemy is trying to finish off the defenders of Azov Steel, they are trying to do it before May 9 as a gift to Vladimir Putin," said Oleksiy Arestovych, adviser to the Ukrainian president.

Ukraine-Russia War: General Mobilization on May 9th?

Kremlin rejects speculation

Western observers and experts also believe it is possible that Putin could officially declare war on Ukraine during his May 9 speech.

So far, the Kremlin has spoken of a "military special operation".

An official declaration of war would make it possible to order general or partial mobilization in Russia.

Then Moscow could send not only professional soldiers but also conscripts to Ukraine.

However, the Kremlin recently dismissed these speculations as “nonsense”.

Ukraine War: Demos in Germany – Strack-Zimmermann "does not expect more than usual"

In Germany, too, the security authorities are expecting increased pro-Russian demonstrations and activities on May 9th.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) has announced tough police action against glorification of the Ukraine war.

"I am very grateful to the police that they are on duty with very strong forces on May 8th and 9th to prevent actions that glorify the Russian war of aggression and Russian war crimes," she told the

.

The Chairwoman of the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), does not expect anything special to happen on May 9th.

"To be honest, I don't expect any more than usual," she said in an interview with n-tv.

She recommends "not staring so much at this date, expecting something terrible, something unusual to happen." Except for the military parade in Moscow, she has "no expectations," says Strack-Zimmermann.