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9 May 2023

In scaled down military parade, Putin accuses West of seeking to destroy his country

Foreign Affairs Correspondent

The Russian president Vladimir Putin has claimed “a real war has been unleashed again” against his country – at a distinctly scaled back parade through Moscow’s Red Square, marking the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender.

Mr Putin used the occasion to justify Russia’s war in Ukraine – flanked by a handful of leaders from former Soviet countries.  While 24 Russian cities cancelled their commemorations altogether over security concerns.