Russian President Vladimir Putin led Victory Day celebrations with a military parade on Red Square, amid heightened security following several Ukrainian attacks targeting the capital, reports Rks News.
Chinese President Xi Jinping joined Putin as they addressed thousands of soldiers and over 20 international leaders, stating that Russia was commemorating the lessons of World War II.
Putin used his speech to draw a parallel between that war and today’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, claiming that all of Russia stands behind what he called the “special military operation” now in its fourth year, according to the BBC.
For the first time, a convoy of trucks carrying various combat drones took part in the Victory Day parade, apparently reflecting their widespread use in the war in Ukraine.
A unilateral three-day ceasefire was announced by Russia to coincide with the 80th anniversary event, which Ukraine rejected as a “theatrical show.”
Kyiv dismissed the ceasefire as a farce, accusing Russia of launching thousands of attacks since it came into effect at midnight on Wednesday. Russia, on the other hand, claimed to have upheld the ceasefire and accused Ukraine of hundreds of violations.
In the hours leading up to the ceasefire, Ukrainian drone strikes forced the closure of airports and disrupted the travel plans of thousands of passengers across Russia.
