Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: ALEXANDER NEMENOV / AFP 11:25 am, May 09, 2023

On the 440th day of the Russian invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the world was at "a turning point" and accused Western countries of orchestrating a "war" against Russia, before calling for "victory" during military celebrations in Moscow's Red Square.

THE ESSENTIALS

On May 9, Russia celebrates the capitulation of Nazi Germany to Allied troops. At military celebrations in Moscow's Red Square, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the world was at "a turning point" and accused Western countries of orchestrating a "war" against Russia.

"Civilization is once again at a turning point. A war has been launched against our homeland," Putin told thousands of Russian soldiers and political elite gathered to commemorate the Nazi defeat in 1945, celebrations taking place this year in the shadow of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.

Information to remember:

  • In Russia, May 9 marks the act of the capitulation of Nazi Germany to Allied troops.
  • Vladimir Putin said the world was at "a turning point" and accused Western countries of orchestrating a "war".
  • Thousands of military personnel marched through Moscow's iconic Red Square.
  • The leader of Wagner accuses Russian soldiers of fleeing the fighting in Bakhmut.

"Nothing is more important now than your military task," Putin told the military gathered in front of him. "The security of the country today rests on you, the future of our state and our people depends on you," he added.

"You fulfill your military missions with honor, you fight for Russia," he continued, before launching: "For Russia, for our brave armed forces, for victory! Hooray!"

Vladimir Putin accuses 'globalised Western elites' of 'pitting people against each other'

The Russian head of state also accused the "globalized Western elites" of "pitting peoples against each other, dividing societies, provoking bloody conflicts", statements whose content and form are reminiscent of those emanating from Moscow at the time of the Cold War. "Their goal is to achieve the collapse and destruction of our country," Putin said, presenting his offensive against Ukraine as a measure to defend Russia against supposed Western aggression.

After the Russian president's brief address, thousands of military personnel marched through Moscow's iconic Red Square, waving Russian and Soviet flags.

Held annually, these commemorations of the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 take place this year in the shadow of Moscow's offensive against Ukraine, marked by a series of humiliating setbacks for the Russian army.

>> READ ALSO - "Victory Day": May 9 festivities under high tension in Russia

Wagner's chief accuses Russian servicemen of fleeing fighting in Bakhmut

The head of the paramilitary group Wagner on Tuesday accused soldiers of the Russian regular army of fleeing their positions in Bakhmut, the epicenter of the fighting in eastern Ukraine, and accused the state of being unable to defend Russia.

Businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin is in open conflict with the Russian military hierarchy, whom he accuses of not providing enough ammunition to his group, on the front line in Bakhmut. "Today (Tuesday), one of the units of the Ministry of Defense fled from one of our flanks ... They left their positions, they all fled," Prigozhin said in a video posted on Telegram.

"Why can't the state defend the country?" he asked, as Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw a military parade in Moscow commemorating "Victory Day" over Nazi Germany in 1945. "Victory Day is the victory of our forefathers, we did not deserve even a fraction of this victory," Prigozhin said. "There is a crime called +the destruction of the Russian people+ (...) And that's what a small group does," he said again, pointing the finger at the General Staff.

In the absence of ammunition, the boss of Wagner announced the withdrawal of his troops

Last week, Wagner's boss announced that he would withdraw his men from Bakhmut on May 10 if the General Staff did not provide him with the ammunition he requested. On Sunday, he said he had received "the promise" of sufficient deliveries, appearing to rule out any retreat from Bakhmut in the immediate future.

On Tuesday, however, he reiterated that he would begin the retreat in the absence of sufficient deliveries: he said that Wagner had received on Tuesday "only 10%" of the ammunition he had requested. "We will not leave (Bakhmut), we will (stay) for a few more days, we will fight anyway, we will manage," he said, appearing to postpone his ultimatum by a few days.

If he has been criticizing for months the commanders of the Russian army, whom he portrays as incapable, his verbal attacks have gone up a notch for several days. On Tuesday, he also accused the military hierarchy of seeking to "deceive" Vladimir Putin.

"If everything is done to deceive the commander-in-chief (Vladimir Putin), then either the commander-in-chief will tear your heart apart, or it will be the Russian people who will be furious if the war is lost," he said in his usual flowery language.