Putin has low-key memorials for 75th anniversary of victory over Nazis

May 9, 2020

NOT Put-in on a show: Russian leader leads low-key memorials to mark 75th anniversary of victory over the Nazis as coronavirus cancels massive Red Square Victory Day parade

With coronavirus infections rising, Vladimir Putin last month postponed a Victory Day parade on Red Square
The massive event usually showcases Moscow’s most sophisticated military hardware, to an unspecified date
In a slimmed-down celebration, Putin will lay flowers at the Eternal Flame war memorial and deliver a speech
The Russian air force will also carry out fly-pasts over more than 47 cities, as well as at its military base in Syria
Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has led low-key memorials to mark the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War on Saturday.

The coronavirus outbreak has forced the nation to scale back celebrations seen as boosting support for the Kremlin.

With infections rising, Putin last month postponed the highlight of Victory Day celebrations, a massive parade on Red Square that showcases Moscow’s most sophisticated military hardware, to an unspecified date.

The Russian leader has described Victory Day celebrations as sacred to Russians but said a big public event was too risky during the pandemic.

Servicemen wear face masks at a wreath laying ceremony at the Eternal Flame in Slavy (Glory) Square, marking the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Military parades were postponed amid the crisis

Servicemen take part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Vladivostok – the City of Military Glory stele, for the 75th anniversary. With infections rising, Putin postponed the massive parade on Red Square – the highlight of the celebrations

Citizens and servicemen hold portraits of their relatives who fought in the Second World War during an event to mark the 75th anniversary held by the Vladivostok – City of Military Glory stele. The outbreak has forced Russia to scale back celebrations

The Perekop training ship, one of the Smolny class training ships built for the Soviet Navy in the late 1970s, by Leitenanta Shmidta Embankment on Victory Day. Later on Saturday, Putin will lay flowers at the Eternal Flame war memorial

Vladivostok Mayor Oleg Gumenyuk, Primorye Territory Governor Kozhemyako’s wife Irina Gerasimenko and Primorye Territory Governor Oleg Kozhemyako (left to right) during a flower laying ceremony at the Military Glory of the Pacific Fleet

In previous years, Putin basked in national pride as he watched Russian tanks rumble across the square with world leaders by his side.

But as of Friday, Russia had reported 187,859 coronavirus cases and 1,723 deaths.

In a slimmed-down celebration, Putin will lay flowers at the Eternal Flame war memorial outside the Kremlin walls and deliver a speech.

Fireworks will be let off across Russia as much of the country remains in lockdown, the Defence Ministry has said.

One servicemen salutes at a ceremony at the Eternal Flame in Slavy (Glory) Square in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, as five other servicemen stand further back while holding a wreath and wearing face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic

A woman holds portraits of her relatives who fought in the Second World War, on Victory Day in Novosibirsk, Russia. President Putin postponed military parades and celebrations last month, on April 6, due to the coronavirus pandemic

Primorye Territory Governor Kozhemyako’s wife Irina Gerasimenko (centre) lays flowers at the Military Glory of the Pacific Fleet memorial complex in Vladivostok, Russia, to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Second World War

A pilot by a Mil Mi-8AMTSh helicopter ahead of taking part in a Victory Day air show, marking the 75th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War, at an airfield in the town of Klin

Admiral Sergei Avakyants, commander of the Pacific Fleet, the Russian Navy fleet in the Pacific Ocean, salutes while wearing uniform during a flower laying ceremony at the Military Glory of the Pacific Fleet memorial complex

A serviceman wears a face mask as he stands besides flags on the Perekop training ship, one of the Smolny class training ships, by Leitenanta Shmidta Embankment in St Petersburg on Victory Day

A Russian serviceman holds a portrait of his relative who fought in the Second World War in Lenin Square, Novosibirsk, Russia, on Victory Day. Putin has accused Russia’s detractors of diminishing the Soviet war effort

The Russian air force will carry out fly-pasts over more than 47 cities, as well as at its military base in Syria.

It will showcase a full array of jets and helicopters, including Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighters, the country’s most advanced warplanes.

Public processions commemorating Soviet participants in the war that are normally held on May 9 have been moved online, with people uploading pictures of family members and telling their war stories.

It follows a recent poll giving Putin his lowest approval rating in more than two decades and the country’s economy is slipping into a deep downturn.

A portrait of a Second World War soldier attached to a window in the cockpit of a Mil Mi-8AMTSh helicopter ahead of a Victory Day air show taking off from an airfield in the town of Klin, in the Moscow region of Russia

A man holds an umbrella while walking on a bridge past red banners devoted to the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany during the Second World War, in downtown Moscow on Saturday

Pilots by a Mil Mi-26 helicopter ahead of taking part in a Victory Day air show marking the 75th anniversary, at an airfield in the town of Klin, in Moscow. The Russian air force will carry out fly-pasts over more than 47 cities and its military base in Syria

Mil Mi-35M helicopters take off ahead of taking part in a Victory Day air show at an airfield in the town of Klin, Moscow. The nation will showcase a full array of jets and helicopters, including Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighters

A servviceman wears a note tied around his neck and a face mask while standing next to a flag on the Perekop training ship by Leitenanta Shmidta Embankment on Victory Day in St Petersburg, Russia

A pilot in the cockpit of a Mil Mi-8AMTSh helicopter ahead of a Victory Day air show, at an airfield in Klin, Moscow. Processions commemorating Soviet participants in the war moved online, with people posting pictures of family members

Two pilots in the cockpit of a Mil Mi-8AMTSh helicopter before they take off for a Victory Day air show marking the 75th anniversary of Victory Day, at an airfield in Klin. Fireworks will also be let off across much of Russia, during the lockdown

On the eve of the anniversary, Putin sent congratulatory letters to many former Soviet republics, as well as to the leaders of Britain, the United States and France.

Putin has accused Russia’s detractors of diminishing the Soviet war effort, and on Friday he warned post-Soviet leaders against what he said were attempts to rewrite the history of World War Two.

In his messages to foreign leaders, Putin said their countries should build on the cooperation between the Soviet Union and the Allies as Moscow’s relations with the West remain fraught.

‘This invaluable cooperation experience is highly needed even today,’ Putin wrote to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Kremlin said.

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