Russian President Vladimir Putin used the annual commemoration of his country’s victory in World War II to justify the Kremlin’s attack on Ukraine, saying it was the only way to prevent what he said was a planned assault on Russia
and grew up speaking Russian, has argued that, given the loss of more than eight million Ukrainians during World War II, his people could never support such an ideology.
But many Russians believe the Kremlin’s narrative and support Russia’s war against its former Soviet vassal, according to independent and state polls, despite early setbacks. Faced with stern resistance from Ukrainian forces, Russia’s military has refocused its mission on the country’s east, and has increased attacks on railways, electrical-power facilities and points where Western weapons and ammunition are flowing into the country. Russia has accused Ukraine of sporadic attacks and acts of sabotage on its territory in recent weeks.Photo:Mr. Putin’s Victory Day speech had been the subject of speculation by Western observers before the event.
The Kremlin neither declared victory in Ukraine nor ordered a mass mobilization on Monday, but Mr. Putin did emphasize his claim that Russia’s invasion was in response to what he characterized as an existential threat. “The defense of the Motherland, when its fate was being decided, has always been sacred,” Mr. Putin said.
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