Military parade on May 9: Putin surprises with conservative speech

Created: 05/10/2022, 15:10

By: Tobias Utz, Katja Thorwarth, Christian Stör

Russia celebrates May 9th with a military parade.

President Putin's speech is surprisingly conservative.

• Russia's President has no doubts:

  Plan for "special operation" works

• Putin addresses the people:

  On May 9, President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Russian losses in the Ukraine war.

• Slimmed-down military parade:

  Russia's May 9 celebrations in Moscow will be smaller this year.

• Military parade in Moscow:

  You can read all the information about the celebrations in the middle of the Ukraine conflict on May 9, 2022 in our news ticker.

Update from Tuesday, May 10, 1:30 p.m .:

One day after Vladimir Putin’s speech on May 9, the “Day of Victory” over Nazi Germany, numerous questions that were asked in advance are unanswered.

For example, it was said that the Russian President could announce a mobilization of the army.

Heavy military losses in the Ukraine war were among the reasons given for this measure.

Putin admitted this in his speech, but he missed the opportunity to mobilize.

Instead, he spread well-known propaganda.

For example, he claimed that NATO countries were outfitting "neo-Nazis" in Ukraine.

Kremlin chief Putin speaks at the military parade May 9 in Moscow.

© Mikhail Metzel/dpa

"He repeated the classic narratives that NATO would threaten Russia, that Russia would have to defend itself, that it would be a fight against a fascist regime in Ukraine, all the narratives that we have seen so far," explained expert Claudia Major, by the Science and Politics Foundation, the news later.

She emphasized, however, that the most interesting thing was what Putin had not mentioned: for example, the general mobilization.

Instead, Putin used the speech to prepare the population for more months of war.

His plan to invade the neighboring country in just 15 days fell through weeks ago.

Instead of speaking of Ukraine, he spoke of "our people in the Donbass".

For expert major, however, a general mobilization is not off the table: “The Russian troops are in Donbass, they are on the land bridge to Crimea.

They try to create facts on the ground by introducing the ruble, by preparing referendums.

The situation on the ground has therefore not improved just because the speech was relatively conservative.”

May 9: Putin surprisingly cancels the air show

+++ 4.45 p.m.:

The air show of this year's parade on May 9th was canceled at short notice.

The Kremlin announced this 15 minutes before the start.

Spokesman Dmitri Peskov justified the measure with the bad weather in Moscow.

However, this is not confirmed by various meteorological data.

According to various weather services, there were nine or ten degrees Celsius in Moscow on Monday morning.

The wind speed was around 20 km/h.

Blue skies could also be seen on the live images broadcast on Russian state television.

In addition, there were hardly any clouds in the sky: all signs of good weather.

There was also a report from the Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets, which went online a few minutes before the start of the parade.

It said the weather was so good

that this year the spraying of chemicals against cloud formation was avoided.

These are otherwise used to make the pompous air show clearly visible.

The newspaper's report is now only available in web archives.

For comparison:

In 2021 the air show took place at five degrees Celsius and light rain.

The statements of the Kremlin spokesman therefore appear flimsy.

However, the Russian government did not give any further details.

So it remains speculation as to why the air show did not take place.

However, it could be related to Russia's heavy losses in the Ukraine war.

So far, the military has lost more than 25,600 soldiers, 1,145 tanks and 199 aircraft.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, there were also 158 broken military helicopters.

Speech on May 9: Putin has no doubts about "special operation"

+++ 3:00 p.m .:

Russian President Putin apparently has no doubts that the “special operation” in Ukraine could fail.

“The guys behave bravely, heroically, professionally.

All plans will be fulfilled, the result will be achieved, there is no doubt about that,” he said to the father of a slain pro-Russian separatist.

This is reported by the Russian news agency Interfax.

International experts are very critical of Putin's forecasts.

Russia has already suffered heavy losses in the Ukraine war.

According to the latest data from the Ukrainian General Staff, more than 25,600 Russian soldiers have already died.

May 9: Putin accuses Ukraine of nuclear armament

+++ 1:45 p.m .:

In his speech at the military parade, Putin accused Ukraine of trying to regain nuclear weapons.

With regard to NATO, the 69-year-old complained that Russia had proposed a treaty on security guarantees, dialogue and the mutual protection of interests to the West in December.

"All in vain," Putin said in front of thousands of soldiers in parade uniform.

"The NATO states didn't want to hear us.

And that means they had completely different plans," he said.

Moscow sees itself at war with the West, which is trying to bring Russia to its knees with sanctions and arms deliveries.

Contrary to what some Western observers feared, however, Putin did not order partial or general mobilization.

Chancellor Scholz was not invited to the military parade in Moscow - Merkel was

+++ 12.15 p.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not receive an invitation to the Russian celebrations at the end of the Second World War in Europe this year.

The Federal Press Office announced on Monday that "no invitation had been sent to the Federal Chancellor from the Russian side".

Accordingly, in 2010 the then Chancellor Angela Merkel traveled to the celebrations in Moscow.

As the Federal Press Office further reported, Merkel was also invited to the Russian capital in 2015.

At that time, however, she did not travel on the actual memorial day, May 9th, but one day later and commemorated the victims of the war by laying a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Soldier.

Putin took the military parade in Moscow as an opportunity to justify the war of aggression in Ukraine.

© Alexander Zemlianichenko/dpa

Putin admits Russia's losses at military parade on May 9

+++ 11.45 a.m .:

In his speech, Vladimir Putin once again spread Russian propaganda that has been known since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine.

For example, he spoke of "neo-Nazis" who had been equipped with weapons by NATO.

Here you can see the complete speech of Putin in the video.

+++ 11.20 a.m

.: Putin has admitted the losses of his troops in the attack on Ukraine and promised material aid to the relatives.

"The death of every soldier and officer means suffering and irretrievable loss for relatives and loved ones," said the Kremlin boss: "The state, regions, companies and civil society organizations are doing everything to provide care and support to these families help." 

Russia celebrates May 9th - military parade in Moscow

View photo gallery

Putin on May 9th: war of aggression is defense against "aggression"

+++ 10.15 a.m .:

Kremlin chief Putin justified the invasion of Ukraine with the expansion of NATO at the military parade in Moscow.

"Russia preemptively warded off the aggression, that was the only right decision," said Putin.

He once again accused the West of having armed “neo-Nazis” in Ukraine.

Moscow has repeatedly tried to reach an agreement on an international security solution, Putin said.

However, NATO ignored Russia's arguments and began to open up Ukrainian territory militarily.

The 69-year-old stressed that victory in World War II was won jointly with the Western Allies, but at the same time lamented the prevailing "Russophobia" among the political elites there.

"We know that American veterans who wanted to come to the Moscow parade were effectively banned," Putin claimed.

Parade on May 9: Putin warns of a world war in the Ukraine war

+++ 10.00 a.m .:

 Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of the danger of a new world war with a view to the Ukraine war.

Everything must be done to prevent "a repeat of the horrors of global war," Putin said Monday in his speech during a military parade commemorating the end of World War II in Moscow.

At the same time, he justified the military operation in Ukraine, which serves to defend Russia from an "unacceptable threat". 

On May 9, Zelenskyi speaks of Russian “appropriated” the victory over Nazi Germany

+++ 9.40 a.m .:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has forbidden Russia to “appropriate” the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

"Today we celebrate the Day of Victory over National Socialism," said Zelenskyj in a video message on Monday.

"We are proud of our ancestors who defeated National Socialism together with other nations in the anti-Hitler coalition."

"And we will not allow anyone to appropriate this victory," Zelenskyy said.

“We won then.

We will win now."

Putin on May 9 at military parade in Russia: new military target issued

+++ 9.35 a.m .:

The Russian leadership has canceled the air show at the Moscow military parade.

"The aerial part will not take place because of the weather," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the state news agency TASS on Monday.

Originally, 77 planes and helicopters were supposed to take part in the military parade. 

+++ 9.30 a.m .:

The speech ends with the Russian national anthem.

Putin has not announced any concrete actions and has changed his narrative.

He referred to the unity of the nation, commemorated the victims and formulated Ukraine as a "satellite state" of the USA.

Putin always referred to the "liberation of the Donbass", and Ukraine as a whole was hardly mentioned as the scene of his war of aggression.

If you follow the speech, Putin's goal is limited - to the east of Ukraine.

Putin has not questioned Ukraine's sovereignty.

Putin on May 9 at the military parade in Russia: invocation of cohesion

+++ 9.20 a.m .:

Putin addresses the Russian armed forces and the “fighters in Donbass”.

They would fight for the future, at the same time he bowed to those who died in the "brutal shelling by the Nazis".

The Kremlin boss emphasizes the "just fight" for Russia.

A minute's silence is observed.

Putin speaks of the families of the soldiers who would be supported.

Russia's enemies want to "split" the country, which didn't work.

The force would consist of fighters "from many nations".

+++ 9.10 a.m .:

The military parade has started in Moscow.

Thousands of soldiers march on Red Square.

Now Vladimir Putin's speech begins.

Congratulations on the "Day of the Great Victory".

Such days were always sacred.

Putin speaks of a Ukrainian "military provocation", of arms deliveries from the West, of the threat to Russia from "Bandera supporters".

Military parade on May 9 in Russia: Putin's speech is expected

Update from Monday, May 9th, 6:35 a.m .:

Russia is holding its traditional military parade (8:00 a.m. CEST) in the capital Moscow on Monday to commemorate the end of World War II and the victory over Nazi Germany.

Thousands of soldiers are said to march across Moscow's Red Square for the occasion, followed by tanks and rocket launchers and fighter jets flying overhead.

President Vladimir Putin is expected to give a speech.

In it, he could also make new announcements related to Ukraine.

Among other things, a general mobilization is feared.

Military parade on May 9th: “Like 1945, victory will be ours”

+++ 1:35 p.m .:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown himself confident of victory with a view to Ukraine and has drawn parallels to the Second World War.

"Like 1945, victory will be ours," Putin said on Sunday.

"Today, like their ancestors, our soldiers fight shoulder to shoulder to liberate their homeland from the Nazi filth."

"Unfortunately, today Nazism is raising its head again," the Russian president said in a passage addressed to Ukrainians.

"Our sacred duty is to prevent the ideological heirs of those who have been defeated" from getting "their revenge."

He wished all residents of Ukraine a “peaceful and just future”.

Update from Sunday, May 8th, 7.35 a.m

.: Putin wants to speak at the traditional large military parade in Moscow on Monday, the Russian "Victory Day" over Nazi Germany.

He is expected to set the course for the two-and-a-half-month war against Ukraine.

As a result, fears of increased Russian airstrikes in connection with the Moscow holiday are growing in Ukraine.

In cities close to the front, such as Odessa, a curfew is to apply for two days. 

May 9th in Russia: Will Putin officially declare a state of war? 

First report from May 6th:

Moscow – The spectacle is known.

Every year on May 9, on the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Hitler's Germany, Russia showcases its military might.

In the year of the Ukraine war, the day has a special meaning for Vladimir Putin and the nation.

The President's speech on Red Square in Moscow is awaited with great excitement.

For a long time, experts thought that Putin would declare the war in Ukraine over on May 9th.

But Putin's military is still a long way from success.

As a precaution, Russia's foreign minister has already dismissed any speculation: "Our military will not artificially align its actions to any date," Sergey Lavrov recently told the Italian television channel Mediaset.

Another option sounds more likely.

Putin could officially declare war on Ukraine and order general mobilization.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace even suspects that Putin wants to declare the campaign in Ukraine a global war against "Nazis".

The only thing that is certain is that Putin will warn the US and NATO against attacks on Russia.

May 9th in Russia: Moscow wants to present new rocket launchers at a military parade

Military parades are planned for May 9 in 28 Russian cities.

At the country's largest march in Moscow, 11,000 soldiers are to march, tanks, rockets and the latest war equipment are to be presented.

"For the first time, modern Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers with a caliber of 122 millimeters and equipped with automatic control and fire control systems will roll across Red Square in the motorized column," announced Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, according to a report by the Interfax agency.

At an air show, fighter jets, long-range bombers and the Ilyushin Il-80, known as the “doomsday plane”, are to take off.

The flying command post is designed for use in the event of a nuclear war, should the command centers on the ground no longer function.

(cs/ktho/tu with AFP/dpa)