Russia has one of the world’s highest Covid-19 death tolls and caseloads. Sergei Kiselyov / Moskva News Agency Russia will not invite foreign dignitaries to its annual World War II victory parade on Red Square next month, the Kremlin announced Wednesday. With preparations in full swing, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered military chiefs Tuesday to take measures against the spread of Covid-19 among guests and participants. We dont know exactly why (it was never officially explained), but experts say that it was done to give Russian military a friendlier face. Russian service members walk as military vehicles drive along a street during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. This year’s parade will showcase 12,000 troops as well as up to 200 pieces of military hardware, including Russia’s state-of-the-art Armata tanks. Peskov last month said that Russia’s daily Covid-19 caseload of under 9,000 - a threefold drop from the country's peak during the second wave late last year - raised hopes that health officials would allow mass attendance at the parade. Participants, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, attend a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, in Red Square. Instead, Putin was flanked by heads of former Soviet republics and elderly war veterans in uniforms decorated with medals. The pandemic also scuttled plans for Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the 2020 parade. Last year's event, which marked the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany, was postponed by over a month due to the coronavirus pandemic. Peskov previously vowed that the 2021 Victory Day parade will take place on its traditional date of May 9. According to the RBC news website, the Mayor’s Office plans to announce the relaxed rules by April 26. His comments follow reporting that suggests Moscow plans to lift coronavirus restrictions on mass gatherings to carry out the event. The “Immortal Regiment” procession, which sees hundreds of thousands of Russians march with the portraits of family members who fought against Nazi Germany every Victory Day, was moved online, with people being asked to share photos of the veterans on social media, buildings and cars instead.“The rest will probably involve the usual invitations, but with added nuances that our sanitary authorities will determine closer to the date,” Interfax quoted Peskov as saying. Most veterans wear their medals as they head to the parade or an event organized by a local veteran organization. The biggest parade is in Moscow’s Red Square, showcasing Russia’s military forces. Moscow also banned the use of civilian drones and ride-sharing services were unavailable in the city center, with security fears given new urgency by what the Kremlin claims was the Ukrainian assassination attempt on Putin. What Do People Do Many people attend a local military parade and watch the fireworks at night on Victory Day. ![]() Red Square was closed to the public for two weeks ahead of the occasion, in an apparent move to stave off any security threats to the high-profile event in the heart of the capital. ![]() It prompted authorities in many regions to scale back or cancel military parades that normally draw huge crowds. In addition, a wave of explosions have hit strategic targets deep inside Russia and several prominent pro-war figures in recent months, fueling a growing sense of unease over the security of territory Russia controls - from the capital to Crimea. Russia celebrates the 77th anniversary of the. The high-profile clash over the struggle to capture Bakhmut illustrates the lack of any symbolic victory from a costly winter push on the battlefield. Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech during the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow on May 9, 2022. He questioned the state's ability to defend the country and the wisdom of holding the celebrations in the midst of a brutal conflict. Shortly after the parade, Prigozhin lambasted the Russian defense ministry for failing to supply his fighters with ammunition, after promising to pull his forces from a key battle last week. Gavriil Grigorov / AFP - Getty Imagesīut for all his grandiose language and efforts to rally public support, there were growing signs of disquiet within the Russian ranks. Putin said in his address that “a real war” has been waged on Russia, yet again framing his invasion as a response to the West's "exorbitant ambitions." Putin offered no new threats in his Red Square speech. Though Kyiv has denied involvement in the mysterious incident, events across the country were curtailed over security fears and mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin renewed his rhetorical assault on the Kremlin's top brass, ensuring the most sacred day on the calendar for Putin’s Russia took place under a growing shadow.
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