Russia-Ukraine war news: Putin marks Victory Day in Moscow; strikes on Kyiv continue
Ukraine live briefing: Putin presides over scaled-back Victory Day; Wagner chief criticizes war effort Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow on May 9, 2023. (Mikhail Metzel/AFP/Getty Images)
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Russia celebrated Victory Day on Tuesday, a holiday commemorating the Soviet Union’s role in the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. In a brief address at a scaled-down parade in Moscow’s Red Square under tight security, President Vladimir Putin claimed that “real war” is being waged against Russia and accused Western nations of stoking conflict and treating Ukraine as a “bargaining chip.” The traditional flyover was canceled, as were celebrations in at least 20 cities due to security concerns, after what Moscow alleges was a drone attack on the Kremlin last week.
As Putin praised Russia’s military strength, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, issued a blistering statement denouncing Russia’s defense leaders for “treason” and “destruction.” He repeated a claim that his troops had “no ammunition” and that Russian troops were fleeing their positions in Ukraine. Blaming “those who give them orders and who set the tasks,” he said that “the fish rots from the head.” Prigozhin also said it was not a time to celebrate: “Victory Day is the victory of our grandfathers. We don’t deserve this victory one millimeter.”
Here’s the latest on the war and its impact across the globe.
Key developments
Putin attended the commemoration in Red Square with a small group of foreign leaders, mostly from former Soviet states such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Kazakhstan. Wearing a black coat with a St. George ribbon pinned to his chest, he greeted World War II veterans and said, “We are proud of the participants of the ‘special military operation,’” referring to the war in Ukraine. “The future of our statehood and our people depends on you.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Kyiv on Tuesday, to Europe Day on May 9, a holiday honoring “ to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in celebratingEurope Day on May 9, a holiday honoring “ peace and unity ” on the continent. Von der Leyen has made several trips to Kyiv since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has been influential in rallying support for the country.
Explosions rattled Kyiv at dawn Tuesday as Russia made its fifth attack on the Ukrainian capital in nine days. The city’s military administration The city’s military administration posted on Telegram that several air targets were destroyed and said there were no reported casualties. The leader of Kyiv’s military administration, Serhiy Popko, attributed the attack to Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, writing on Telegram that Russia has given itself a “sacred day” on which to “try to kill as many civilians as possible.”
Russia is preparing to evacuate more than 3,000 staff members from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest facility of its kind in Europe, where experts have warned that the largest facility of its kind in Europe, where experts have warned that fighting could lead to a disastrous leak of nuclear material , according to Ukraine’s nuclear operator. Occupying Russian authorities have also evacuated nearly 1,700 civilians from communities near the facility ahead of a potential Ukrainian offensive in the region, according to a Moscow-installed official.
Battleground updates
Russian missile attacks in Odessa and Kherson hit warehouses storing humanitarian aid supplies, two aid organizations said. Ukraine’s Red Cross Society two aid organizations said. Ukraine’s Red Cross Society said Monday that one of its warehouses, covering nearly 108,000 square feet, caught fire. The aid group Project HOPE said supplies including generators and health hygiene kits were also destroyed in strikes.
Britain appears poised to send Kyiv long-range missiles that could reach deeper into Russian-held territory, weapons that the United States has avoided providing. The British Defense Ministry asked an alliance of Northern European countries for “ weapons that the United States has avoided providing. The British Defense Ministry asked an alliance of Northern European countries for “ expressions of interest ” in providing Ukraine strike capabilities with a range of up to 300 kilometers, or about 186 miles. A final decision has not yet been made.
Global impact
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will visit Washington this week and discuss support for Ukraine in meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and members of Congress. He will “stress the importance of a continued, united international front for ensuring a Ukrainian victory,” the British Foreign Office said in a in meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and members of Congress. He will “stress the importance of a continued, united international front for ensuring a Ukrainian victory,” the British Foreign Office said in a statement
The United Nations reported Monday that there have been at least 23,606 civilian casualties in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has confirmed 8,791 civilians killed and 14,815 injured, but it acknowledges that its count is incomplete and “believes that the actual figures are considerably higher,” given limited information, the report said. since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has confirmed 8,791 civilians killed and 14,815 injured, but it acknowledges that its count is incomplete and “believes that the actual figures are considerably higher,” given limited information, the report said.
From our correspondents
What to know about Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant: Rocket and mortar attacks near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine have sparked international concern, prompting world leaders and even Pope Francis to plead for calm. “Russia has put Ukraine and all Europeans in a situation one step away from a radiation disaster,” Zelensky said last summer.
Nearly a year later, the situation at the facility — which is controlled by Russia but connected to Ukraine’s power grid — remains dire, with Russian authorities preparing to evacuate about 3,100 staff members from areas in and around the facility this week. Claire Parker and Erin Cunningham explain the significance of Zaporizhzhia’s power plant and what is at stake.
Natalia Abbakumova and Robyn Dixon contributed to this report.
Source: The Washington Post
