At parades in the regions of the Russian Federation, the authorities promoted the war in Ukraine

At the celebrations in honor of Victory Day on May 9, which are held in Russian regions, many officials turn to the topic of the war in Ukraine, comparing the current events with the Great Patriotic War and asserting that Russia is now “fighting fascism.” President Vladimir Putin made similar statements at a parade on Red Square in Moscow.

Dozens of regions announced the cancellation of festive events. But parades still took place in Moscow and a number of other regions.

As noted by “TV-2”, at the parade in Tomsk, all the speakers mentioned the war in Ukraine. “Today we see: history is repeating itself. Again, the collective West has thrown all its power at us: military, economic, informational, wanting one thing: the defeat of Russia. And again thousands of our compatriots are on the front line, protecting the future of our country,” he said. at. Tomsk Mayor Mikhail Ratner.

In Nizhneudinsk, Irkutsk Region, on Victory Day, a memorial was erected to the graduates of the local railway technical school who died in Ukraine. The monument is two metal stars installed next to the memorial to the soldiers of the Second World War, reports Sibir.Realii.

In Krasnoyarsk and Tomsk military enlistment offices opened recruitment points for contract service on May 9. Earlier, the mass media, citing sources, reported that the Kremlin plans to recruit about 400,000 more contract workers to continue the war in Ukraine.

In St. Petersburg, the parade took place on Palace Square. Local officials openly compared the participants of the invasion of Ukraine with the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War, reports Sever.Realii.

In total, about four thousand people came to the parade: veterans, blockaders, invited guests and participants of the Russian aggression in Ukraine. It was also attended by people in uniform with patches of PMC “Wagner” – the Russian unofficial armed formation, created by a businessman close to Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin. PMC mercenaries, among whom are prisoners recruited in colonies, take an active part in the war with Ukraine.

In St. Petersburg, the parade lasted five minutes longer than in Moscow – 50 minutes. After its completion, a mobile selection point for military service was brought to the Palace Square.

As reported by the Sever.Realia correspondent, some residents of the city carried with them portraits of those killed in the Great Patriotic War, although the “Immortal Regiment” action was canceled in 2023. A group of activists of the pro-government National Liberation Movement (NOD) marched along Nevsky Prospekt, they also carried portraits of soldiers.

In Kudrovo (Leno Oblast), Putin’s “holiday” speech was played over loudspeakers.

On May 9, the police in Krasnoyarsk and Barnaul forbade bringing bottles of water and drinks to festive events. In Krasnoyarsk, two cadets lost consciousness amid 30-degree heat.

In Selenginsk, Buryat region, people were hit by one of the firecrackers set off by the authorities in honor of the holiday. A woman and several children could be injured, the authorities said that they were examined by doctors, hospitalization or treatment was not required.

At the cemetery in Bolshoi Kamne of the Primorsky Krai, unknown persons vandalized the grave of the PMC Wagner mercenary. Vandals cut down the cross, tore the flag and smashed the photo.