Russia marks Nazi defeat amidst Ukraine war
President Putin presides over Victory Day over Nazism today, but is there a mood of unity?
Russian President Vladmir Putin has constantly drawn parallels between his invasion of Ukraine and the Second World War, referring to "de-nazifying" Ukraine as justification for starting the conflict.
As Russia prepares to celebrate what it calls "Victory Day" - a hugely important public holiday that commemorates the victory over the Nazis in 1945 鈥� Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelensky says Moscow has forgotten everything that mattered to the victors of the Second World War.
To help make sense of where Russia now finds itself, Newsday spoke to Grigory Yavlinksy, the founder of the liberal Yabloko party, and former presidential candidate.
鈥淔our years of war and more than 26 millions of Russian dead [defeating Hitler]. I think this will be the first time many Russians will not take part in official demonstrations because of what is happening Ukraine. In their soul there are many people against what is going on鈥� but they are suppressed.鈥�
(Pic: General rehearsal for Victory Day parade in Moscow; Credit: EPA)
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