Russia's military invasion of Ukraine continues.
May 9th in Russia is Victory Day, which celebrates the victory of the former Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in World War II, and is considered to be the day of the highest patriotism, including a military parade from the Far East region. A commemorative ceremony will be held.
Although it was also a symbol of "remembrance and reconciliation," the Putin administration has been increasingly using this holiday as a place to raise national prestige in recent years.
We will keep you updated on the movements on the 9th as the military invasion of Ukraine continues.
(There is a time difference of 6 hours between Japan and Ukraine and Moscow in Russia)
G7 Russia agrees on gradual or immediate ban on oil imports
The White House of the United States announced at an online summit meeting held on the 8th that the G7 = seven major countries agreed to ban oil imports from Russia in stages or immediately.
The aim is to hurt the Russian economy and prevent President Putin from raising war expenses.
The United States has already embargoed on oil imports from Russia, and the EU-European Union has announced sanctions to ban it later this year.
Ukrainian historian President Putin accuses unilateral claims
Ukrainian historian Borodimil Biatrovic spoke in an interview with NHK on the 5th in the capital city of Kieu about the implications of Russia's Victory Day.
In it, he said, "Victory Day, which is May 9th in Russia, was devised to show off that Soviet leader Stalin at the time made a special contribution to the victory over fascism." ..
He pointed out that since 2015, Ukraine has been holding a commemorative event on the 8th of the previous day instead of the 9th of May, as in other European countries.
"The background is the rise in anti-Russian sentiment in Ukraine following the unilateral annexation of Crimean by Russia in 2014 and the turmoil in eastern Ukraine," he said.
"Putin is'fighting the Ukrainian Nazis' in this war," said Beatrovich. "It's just using the Soviet-era propaganda of May 9th." I did.
He accused Putin of unilaterally making claims that equated the fight against Nazi Germany with the military invasion of Ukraine.
"What Russia is doing now is fascism itself"
Many Ukrainians have criticized Russia for celebrating Victory Day.
Of these, pensioner Petro Dorotu, 84, said, "It used to be an important anniversary because nine of my family died in World War II, but it's already past. Unfortunately, now that the war with Russia continues, it is no longer a day to celebrate. "
He added, "If the Russians want to celebrate, let them do it. It's Russia's convenience and it's up to the Russian leadership."
And Petro's wife, Gina, 83, said, "Ukraine now has May 8 as a memorial day for the victims, just like any other European country." Emphasized that is important.
"Russia will celebrate the day it won World War II, but ironically, the nightmare of Mariupori," said Oleksandra Poborosenik, a 28-year-old journalist who works for local internet media. If you look at it, you can see that what the Russian army is doing is worse than Nazi Germany. "
In addition, lawyer Janina Tyshchenko (31) said, "It's okay to have a'day to win fascism', but I think what Russia is doing now is fascism itself. February when the military invasion began. There was no hostility towards Russia until the 24th, but there should be no celebration that the fascist nation has won fascism. "
On the other hand, Dmitri Bratzev (23) from eastern Doneck, where many Russians live and Russia has a relatively strong influence, said, "May 9 must be Victory Day in both Russia and Ukraine. Both Russians and Ukrainians participated in the battle with the German army at that time in that war. The anniversary is not bad. "
Expert "If the war is prolonged, it will become unpopular in no time."
Russian political scientist Abbas Garlyamov, who was in the department preparing a draft of Putin's speech at the Presidential Administration of Russia, told NHK's online interview about the May 9th victory anniversary, "For Putin. It's a holy holiday, "said Putin, who appealed to patriotism and increased his cohesiveness, and pointed out that he had used it for domestic unity and national prestige.
Mr. Garyamov was a member of the Russian Presidential Administration until 2016, but after that he turned to criticism of the administration and left Russia feeling dangerous before Russia started a military invasion of Ukraine, and now he is in Israel. is.
"Russia under Putin has shown weapons and threatened the world, showing off how great our troops are," Garlyamov analyzed the administration's aim regarding the military parade on Victory Day.
"Putin's legitimacy is based on the notion of power that he is strong, always defeats his opponent, and gets what he wants," he said. Pointed out that is in the background.
However, regarding the military invasion, Mr. Garlyamov said, "The truly legitimate war is Ukraine, which protects itself against enemy attacks. In the case of Russia, there is a question,'Why are we fighting?'" He acknowledged that it was fundamentally different from World War II, which claimed to have protected his country at great cost.
"I'm shocked now that I've found that I haven't won on the battlefield, and that's the urgent problem facing the president and his aides," he said. He pointed out and analyzed that the Putin administration was upset.
Under these circumstances, President Putin declared a "war state" and it was pointed out that the Russian people could be mobilized. "The problem is not the shortage of personnel on the battlefield, but Ukraine becomes stronger with the support of the international community. That's it. Sending recruits will only increase the number of people killed in the war. "
He added, "People agree with the government's actions while on the sofa, but no more. They never sacrifice themselves for the government or patriotism." Rather, the momentum of anti-war in Russia. He said that it would lead to an increase in the number of people.
Furthermore, he said that the effects of sanctions in Europe and the United States are beginning to appear in civilian life, saying that "if this war is prolonged, it will become unpopular in a blink of an eye", and the idea that support for President Putin will decline due to the prolonged military invasion. Was shown.
However, in light of the fact that the people cannot speak out because of fear of information control by the government, "The success of powerful propaganda is based on fear. It was the same in Nazi Germany, and it is the same here." It was ironic that the Putin administration, celebrating the day of victory over Nazi Germany, was repeating the same thing.
President Putin "Preventing the Resurrection of Nazism"
The Presidential Administration of Russia announced on the 8th and 9th that President Putin sent a congratulatory message to the leaders and citizens of the former Soviet Union on the occasion of "Victory Day".
In it, President Putin said, "Our common duty is to prevent the resurrection of Nazism, which has caused great pain to people in various countries."
"Russian soldiers, like their ancestors, free their territory from Nazi filth," he said to the leaders of pro-Russian militants in the two eastern states of Ukraine, which Russia unilaterally approved. He said he was convinced that the victory would be ours, as in 1945, "and re-justified the military invasion of Ukraine and called for Russia to win.
The Presidential Administration of Russia also posted a message from President Putin to Ukrainian citizens and World War II veterans.
In this, President Putin said, "I sincerely congratulate you on the day of victory, which is our common wonderful holiday." Our sacred duty is to prevent revenge by those who have inherited the ideas of the losers of the Great Homeland War, "he said, saying that the purpose of the military invasion was to fight the Ukrainian neo-Nazis. Insist.
Show off the "End of the Day Airplane" nuclear power to the military parade
In Russia, military parades are held every year on May 9th, "Victory Day".
The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that this military parade will be held in 28 cities, and that it will also hold a Russian military parade in the annexed Crimea in southern Ukraine.
131 weapons will be unveiled at the parade in the capital Moscow, including the ICBM = intercontinental ballistic missile "Jars" that counters the US missile defense network and the short-range ballistic missile that is also used in attacks on Ukraine. It means that Russian-made missiles that can also carry nuclear warheads, such as the "Iskandel" of the above, will appear.
Furthermore, 77 fighters and military helicopters, which are named after the 77th year after the war, will participate.
Of these, Russia's flagship fighter, the MiG-29, is said to fly in a formation that represents the letter "Z", using the "Z" that is a symbol of support for the military invasion of Ukraine. It is a production that appeals to the public.
In addition, the special aircraft "Ilyushin 80", which is also called "the plane of the end of the day", will fly because the president and others board in an emergency such as a war caused by nuclear forces and command the troops from the sky.
President Putin has shown his willingness to use nuclear weapons, showing off his nuclear power in the military parade, and restraining the United States, which supports Ukraine, and other NATO member countries. It seems that there is also an aim.
"Victory Day" with the highest patriotism The Putin administration uses it to raise national prestige
In World War II, the former Soviet Union is said to have killed at least 26 million soldiers and civilians, the largest number in the world.
In particular, the battle with Nazi Germany is called the "Great Patriotic War" in Russia, and it is positioned as a glorious day of victory after suffering.
This history is taught in detail at Russian schools, and May 9th is said to be the day when Russians have the highest patriotism, as they think of the achievements of the Soviet army and their ancestors who participated in the war. I am.
Every year on this day, a commemorative ceremony is held at the Red Square in the capital Moscow, of which the leaders of more than 50 countries including Europe and the United States attend the ceremony of the 60th anniversary of 2005, regardless of whether they are victorious or defeated. The cohesion of the international community for peace was pledged, including in memory of the victims.
In this way, "Victory Day" was also a symbol of "memorial and reconciliation", but in recent years, the Putin administration has become more and more likely to use this holiday as a place to raise national prestige.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergeĭ Viklov said in an interview released on the 1st of this month, "Russian troops will not adjust their actions on a specific day, including Victory Day. May 9th will be solemnly celebrated as usual. "The view is that the fighting will continue after this anniversary, which has been seen as a milestone.
Putin to address in Moscow
In the capital Moscow, a ceremony will be held in the central Red Square from 4 pm on the 9th of Japan time, and President Putin will give a speech.
Putin unilaterally argues that the Zelensky administration is a "neonazi" as a reason for continuing the military invasion of Ukraine, emphasizing the need to protect Russians.
There is also a view that Putin may appeal to the public for support for military operations by superimposing it on the previous war that defeated Nazi Germany.
Also, as the fighting prolongs, British Defense Minister Vladimir Putin declares in his speech that he is "in a state of war" and mentions the possibility of mass mobilization of Russian citizens. ..
There is a lot of interest in what President Putin will give at the ceremony to direct his national prestige.
Meanwhile, after the speech, more than 10,000 soldiers will march on Red Square, and a military parade will be held where the latest weapons will be shown.
Among them, there are plans to fly the special aircraft "Ilyushin 80", which is also called the "Airplane of the End of the Day", in which the president and others board and command the troops in an emergency such as a war by nuclear forces.
By reminding us of the use of nuclear weapons, it seems that there is also an aim to strongly restrain the Western side that supports Ukraine as a military aid.
It is also reported that the Russian side may hold ceremonies in the Ukrainian region, which claims to have taken control of the military invasion.
The series of events scheduled by the Russian side on the 9th will be important in seeing the prospect of a military invasion and the movement to make the rule in Ukraine a reality.