What message will Putin send on Russia's Victory Day? | DW News

May 9th is Victory Day in Russia, marking the Soviet Union's role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War Two. President Putin will lead the celebrations, which include a military parade in Moscow. Analysts say Putin will be looking to use the pomp and pageantry of the day to put a positive spin on his war in Ukraine, despite the Russian military's sluggish campaign there.

The occasion is also usually celebrated by ethnic Russians in Latvia, which was occupied by the Soviet Union for five decades. But authorities have banned celebrations this year in the wake of Russia's war on Ukraine.
DW Correspondent Juri Rescheto went to Latvia's city of Daugavpils.

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#Russia #VictoryDay #Putin

[jozefgoethals]

All those who speak Russian and feel tied to Russia in Latvia, Ukraine, Moldavia and Georgia
should move to Russia if they feel better there

[justmr]

Putin the most hated man on Earth right now? For sure

[edwardsianski]

Losing 12 generals and thousands of soldiers is hardly the stuff of victory.

[SpecOpsDoctor]

Imagine living in a country and complain that you have to speak their language...

[joerogain]

"An appeaser is someone who feeds crocodiles hoping to be the last to be eaten." Winston Churchill 1939

[raspberries]

I was born in Russia, lived there for a few years, BUT I HATE THIS DAY SO MUCH! It has almost no relation to WW2 anymore. It's a day of Putin's Russia, day of Russian militaries, day of ultraconservative ideas. Thanks, Latvia 🇱🇻🇪🇺

[charleswr]

If Ukraine can send a few Missile bouquets to Russia's May 9 parade, that will be a huge "congratulations losers!" gift.

[TheEvertw]

Putin has lost his authority. The world is not impressed by childish behavior.

"No, Putin-dear, you can not have that cookie called Donbas". "Now stop screaming or I will have to spank you".

[joerogain]

"Those that can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire

[genovo]

Intentional or not, Putin has effectively looked to isolated Soviet- style North Korea, and said "I want that! "

[philipberthiaume]

As a canadian and with Canadian NATO troops in Latvia, I wholeheartedly agree with the cancellation of the May 9th events. Russia's war is absolutely horrendous and nations like Latvia have to realize that they're a Russian target. This is no time to be celebrating Russian military accomplishments.

[aquavelva]

Russia celebrating something from 80 years ago, guess they have no other achievements to celebrate in almost a century? And did the world really win when one evil dictator (Stalin) defeated another evil dictator? They were one in the same, brothers from different mothers.

[factchecker]

Victory for Russia? Putin can't even fight her way out of a paper bag.

[theretiringbarber]

What victory he is getting his clock cleaned .

[areuil]

>>> From vietnam, my greatest respect for Ukrainian heroes because of your bravery.Thank you heroes.
🙏🕟

[swapnilmalshe]

Absolutely correct move by Latvia!!
👍🏻

[riaswanepoel]

Putin that day will never happen in Jesus Name, you will be stopped

[joerogain]

"When I look into Putins 👁 💀 👁 eyes I see the KGB." Republican Senator John McCain

[joerogain]

"Unlimited power in the hands of limited men like Stalin & Putin always leads to cruelty." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn/Russian Dissident & Author of A Gulag Archipelago

[harczymarczy]

The same happened to Austrians and Luxembourgers: they didn't want to be part of a nation who had been involved in the Holocaust, they do not consider themeselves Germans any more even if that had been the case before.