Victory Day 2025: Moscow’s Epic, Yet Controversial Show
It’s a gray Sunday in London, but over in Russia, a big event is set to unfold on Monday. President Vladimir Putin will be front‑and‑center, front‑and‑center basically, kicking off the Soviet Union’s 77th anniversary of beating Nazi Germany. This happens while Russian troops are in a very nasty fight with Ukraine – one of the bloodiest standoffs Europe has seen since WWII.
Back‑to‑School Power‑Move
Putin, who’s been roping the Russian state in his lap since 1999, has turned Victory Day into a podium for blasting the West. He’s used Red Square’s loudspeaker to shout in front of a parade of tanks, rockets and even ICBMs – basically, a “this is where we’re coming from” message with a glorious firework finale.
The Sky‑Dancers and the “Doomsday Bus”
At 8 a.m. the sky over St. Basil’s Cathedral will see a sky‑attacking parade. Supersonic fighters and strategic bombers will dance overhead, and for the first time since 2010, the Il-80 “doomsday” command plane will join in – because, hey, if the nuclear drama starts, it’s got to bring the top brass.
History‑Reversed Comparisons
He keeps reminding the audience that the war in Ukraine is “just another fight against dangerous Nazi‑style nationalists.” He draws a straight line from Hitler’s 1941 invasion to what he sees as today’s battle, saying, “Our common duty is to stop Nazism’s comeback.” His message is sent to people across the former Soviet republics, including Ukraine and Georgia.
Ukraine’s Counter‑Punch
Ukraine and its allies dismiss the Nazi claim. They argue Russia is launching an unprovoked war in an attempt to rebuild the old Soviet empire. The Kyiv side says the Kremlin is playing the “survival” card while the West is the real threat. They insist that Russians are being misled and that the U.S. is influencing Ukraine to keep pressure alive.
Putin’s Revenge Angle
He still carries a deep grudge over Western treatment after 1991. He says that the US used Ukraine as a wet‑leveler against Russia – “a tool for the West,” he says. The tension is heavy, the rhetoric tense, and Moscow’s Victory Day remains a high‑octane reminder that history is still being made.
<img alt="" data-caption="Russian service members march during a rehearsal for a military parade marking the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia on May 7, 2022.
PHOTO: Reuters ” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”ef162c40-8af7-43fa-bbed-ae91bc7954b2″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/34U3KHTNS5OW3MJPGATBFOBBR4.jpeg”/>
Biden’s Take on Putin: A Global Showdown
During a fiery speech in Warsaw, President Joe Biden didn’t hold back: he painted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the ultimate clash between democracy and autocracy, calling Vladimir Putin a “war criminal.” He even warned that the old‑school KGB spy can’t keep on top for long.
Russia’s Rebuttal
- “We’ve plainly refuted every claim,” Russia’s spokespeople say, accusing Ukrainian and Western voices of staging a circus of false accusations about war crimes.
- All this comes as the Kremlin insists its military is still “indomitable.”
History’s Heavy Footprint
Think about the USSR’s World‑War‑Two toll: 27 million lives lost, with a massive chunk in Ukraine. Yet they “won” by rolling back Nazis to Berlin—where Hitler’d meet his end—and raising the Soviet Victory Banner over the Reichstag. For many Russians, that moment feels almost holy.
Two titanic defeats still haunt Russia: 1812’s battle against Napoleon and the crushing defeat of Nazi Germany. Both left a wary, almost fragile sense of security on Russia’s western front.
Victory Day: The Sacred Holiday
- Each May 9th, families remember the casualties of war with solemn reverence.
- For many, this shared memory is one of the few uncontroversial threads in a history crowded with disputes.
Current War, Past Lessons
Despite those lessons, Putin’s blockbuster clashes in Ukraine exposed cracks in Russia’s once‑supreme military:
- Public casualty figures? None. Ukraine, however, claims Russia’s losses might outpace the 15,000 soldiers the Soviet forces lost in Afghanistan (1979‑89).
- So while the Kremlin touts a mighty force, reality shows a bruise‑laden brigade fighting a modern battlefield.
In short: Biden’s words hit a razor‑sharp chord, Russia’s denial stings, and history watches—ready to remind us how fragile power can be when the past is still fresh in the nation’s mind.
