Putin marks 78th annual Victory Day with scaled-down ceremony

Russian President Vladimir Putin marked Victory Day on Monday, May 8, commemorating the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II. Speaking at a notably scaled-down ceremony, Putin declared that that the West has unleashed “a real war” against Russia.

In Moscow’s Red Square, the Kremlin showcased a single moving T-34 Soviet-era tank that rolled through the capital. Some 8,000 troops took part in the parade — the lowest number since 2008, possibly reflecting the toll that the Ukraine conflict is taking on Russian forces, as reported by The Associated Press.

According to leaked U.S. documents, Putin’s military has suffered 189,500 to 223,000 casualties since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The same document estimated that Ukraine had suffered 124,500 to 131,000 casualties, as reported by NBC News.

“Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point,” Putin said. “There is no more important thing now than your combat work,” Putin added as he praised Russian troops.

Meanwhile, the United States announced yet another $1.2 billion in new military aid to Ukraine, including air defenses and ammunition, as Kiev reports more attacks by Russian cruise missiles and Iranian-made drones. This brings the United States’ total military support for Ukraine to $37 billion since Russia invaded last year.

This aid package comes ahead of a widely anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory this spring.