China News Service, February 3rd (Reporter Meng Xiangjun) A wreath was laid in front of the monument and a moment of silence was laid, a speech was delivered at the concert, and representatives of patriotic and youth organizations were met...

　　A few days ago, in this way, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Stalingrad Defense War.

　　It has been only 20 days since Putin ordered the Russian army to launch a special military operation against Ukraine.

At such a special moment when war history and reality are intertwined, Putin's every move naturally attracts the attention of Western media.

They hope to find out what kind of important messages Putin has released.

On February 2, local time, Putin presented flowers to Soviet Marshal Chuikov at the Mamayev Kurgan Memorial in Volgograd.

First Message: Don't Forget History Lessons

　　On February 2, 2023, Putin went to the former Stalingrad to recall the war years.

There in the 1960s, it was renamed Volgograd.

　　On the Mamayev Hill in Volgograd stands the giant statue of "Mother of the Motherland" and the Hall of Invalids with the eternal flame.

Putin stepped into the Hall of Invalids to lay flowers and observed a minute's silence in memory of the fallen soldiers.

　　Afterwards, Putin went to the tomb of Chuikov, the main general of the Stalingrad battle, knelt down on one knee and offered flowers.

The giant statue of "Mother of the Motherland" lit up on the Mamayev Heights in Volgograd, Russia.

　　"We are here to celebrate one of the most defining and momentous days in the history of our nation and the world."

　　"80 years ago, on the land of Stalingrad, on the banks of the great Russian Volga, the vile and merciless enemy was driven back forever."

　　The "long, arduous and intense battle of Stalingrad" is over.

　　At the concert commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Stalingrad Defense War, Putin's speech evoked the Russian people's memories of that brutal battle that year.

Data map: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall.

　　The Battle of Stalingrad, which began on July 17, 1942 and ended on February 2 of the following year, was a fierce battle between the Soviet army and the German fascists in an area of ​​about 100,000 square kilometers. Millions of people from both sides participated in the battle one after another, and the Soviet Union won end.

　　This battle, due to its scale, duration and number of participants, was rated as one of the largest battles during World War II, and the number of casualties also set a record.

Statistics from the Russian Satellite News Agency show that Nazi Germany lost about 1.5 million people, and the Soviet Union lost about 1.13 million people.

Reuters commented that this was "one of the bloodiest battles" of World War II.

　　"Putin is reminding the world not to forget the cruel past of war," the commentary pointed out. This is a message he sent to remind and warn some people in the West that the lessons of World War II should always be remembered.

The second message: Don’t be afraid of Western aid to Ukraine, Russia has a backup

　　However, it was Putin's other remarks that attracted more attention.

In his speech, he specifically pointed out, "This incident is unbelievable, but it is true-we are once again threatened by German Panther tanks with crosses."

Data map: German "Leopard II" main battle tank.

　　He described the move as "Nazism with a modern face" and further pointed out that someone "is dragging Germany into a new war with Russia" and "we have been forced to repel the collective invasion of the West time and time again."

　　The swastika, German tanks, Nazism... It is very clear what the meaning of these elements pointed out by Putin is, and who is pushing Germany to stop supplying offensive weapons to Ukraine.

　　On January 25, the German government announced that it had decided to form two tank battalions for Ukraine. In the first stage, 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks were transferred from the Bundeswehr inventory to the Ukrainian side.

There are 14 missiles placed in front of a Russian Tu-95MS bomber.

Image source: Russian Ministry of Defense

　　Putin's attitude has long been on the table regarding Western countries' military supply to Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov pointed out that any material containing Ukrainian weapons will become a "legitimate target" of Russia.

Putin strongly warned this time, "We have something to respond to, and things can't end with armored vehicles."

　　As for what to respond to, Putin did not say clearly.

But there is no doubt that this is calling out to Western countries: I know your intentions; the matter is not over yet; Russia still has back-ups.

In short, "wait and see".

　　Volodin, chairman of the Russian State Duma, said more bluntly that the tanks sent by Germany to fight Russia will face the same fate as the German fascist tanks 80 years ago, that is, they will be burned.

Data map: A man rides a bicycle next to a destroyed tank in Cherniv, Ukraine.

　　Retired Lieutenant Colonel Ross of the German Bundeswehr also analyzed to the Russian Satellite News Agency that Germany's military supply to Ukraine is to keep the combat capability and morale of the Ukrainian army "not completely collapsed."

　　For one, it takes time.

　　Ross pointed out that it will take at least a year to train tankers to operate the tanks according to NATO standards, and it will take time for the tanks themselves to be delivered in preparation for the conditions of the Ukrainian war.

　　Second, the quantity is small.

　　The number of tanks supplied by Germany in this batch was 14, and Ross did not think that using only 14 tanks would be able to reverse the situation of the war.

　　Third, resource consumption.

　　He said that considering that the Russian Air Force is purposefully destroying Ukrainian energy infrastructure and that the German "Panther tanks consume a lot of fuel, the Ukrainian army will be in trouble."

　　What's more, with the help of anti-tank missile systems with automatic guidance and reconnaissance drones, the Russian army can easily target German tanks.

　　Ross asked rhetorically: "Beyond the psychological impact, what tactical value can the current (tank) deliveries bring?"

The third message: new vitality, new trends

　　On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad, Putin also met with representatives of Russian social patriotic and youth organizations and delivered a speech.

On February 11, local time, in Kronstadt, Russia, members of the Military History Club reenacted the Battle of Stalingrad.

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　　"It is necessary to live in the present and look forward, but there is no future without knowing the past," and "people without the memory of the past will not have a future," he told the delegates who participated in the meeting.

　　At the same time, Putin said, "All of these are the basis for our development and progress that we cherish," and "Our top priority is to protect Russia and create conditions for its continued development and strength."

　　Many of those who participated in the Battle of Stalingrad were young people in their teens and twenties, and a survey conducted by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center showed that more than 30% of young Russians were very concerned about this painful history. , little is known about it.

Data map: Russian World War II veterans appear at the commemoration of the Stalingrad Defense War.

　　Some analysts believe that Putin chose to meet with patriotic and youth organizations on the occasion of the anniversary. On the one hand, he expressed the need for contemporary youth to deepen their understanding and inheritance of history. to make up for battlefield losses.

　　In January, Kartaporov, chairman of the National Defense Committee of the Russian State Duma, said that the age requirement may be relaxed to below 30 years old when the country is recruited in the spring of 2023.

　　According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Reznikov, Russia has mobilized as many as "500,000 soldiers" in an attempt to launch a "new major offensive" on February 24, when the operation against Ukraine has been one year old.

　　Reznikov said that Moscow intends to "commemorate" the one-year anniversary of Russia's special military operations in Ukraine.

Russia did not comment.

As for when the new "offensive" will come, and whether the situation in Ukraine will usher in a major turning point, we may soon know.

(over)