MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin told Russians on Saturday they are invincible when they stand together as he presided over celebrations of victory in World War Two that were slimmed down because of the coronavirus outbreak.
His speech, beamed to the nation, sent a message of unity as the Kremlin tries to contain the coronavirus — and Putin tries to keep his ratings high — after Russia passed Germany and France to register the fifth-highest number of cases globally.
Victory Day, which marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, is one of Russia’s most revered public events and provides Putin with a platform to promote the patriotism which is a cornerstone of his popular support.
But the coronavirus outbreak forced him to postpone the main highlight, a huge annual parade on Moscow’s Red Square that showcases Moscow’s most sophisticated military hardware.
In his first public appearance for weeks, a sombre-looking Putin settled for a more low-key remembrance ceremony, but made clear he still planned to hold the usual parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory when the time was right.
“Our veterans fought for life and against deat