From BZ editors
On Monday, Putin’s swanky parade on Red Square was expected on Victory Day over Nazi Germany – THE holiday in Putin’s country! But it got spooky. For the despot!
By I. Frenser, S. Haberlandt and Peter Tiede
Kremlin potentate Vladimir Putin (69) delivered a bankruptcy show: parade without a win!
Particularly embarrassing: During the significantly reduced parade (131 military vehicles, 2021: around 190), the Air Force stayed on the ground: Because the “doomsday jet” (an Ilyushin Il-80), Putin’s air command center, was allegedly defective.
In addition, the weather (low clouds) played a trick on the Kremlin despot. No air show possible, it said.
Russia expert Sergei Sumlenny, who headed the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Kyiv for six years, considers these arguments to be false. The political advisor to BILD TV: “They were simply afraid that some acts of sabotage could take place.” After all, “the routes and times of the flight parade” were known from the rehearsals. Sumlenny: “Nothing could turn out worse than if a plane had been shot down. That would have been an embarrassment in the world.”
The original plan: Eight fighter jets are to form the letter “Z” in the sky, which is the official symbol of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
A number of other air shows were also officially canceled due to the weather, for example in the megacities of St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Samara.
Tens of thousands of people were on their feet to follow the WaffenSCHAU. And indeed, the Kremlin delivered significantly more SHOW.
The approximately 11,000 soldiers should make a powerful impression. They march in rehearsed step across Red Square, accompanied by heavy artillery such as long-range rocket launchers.
This year, too, “Putin’s super tank” T-14 drove up to the Protz parade on “Victory Day”. BUT: It has never been used in war. “Technically not mature,” doubt experts.
Around 130 tanks rolled along in the parade – here the T-14 tank Photo: Sergei Savostyanov/TASS
The driving killer drone “Uran-9” has also been officially in service with the Russian army since 2016. But their only “battle tank” remains Putin’s swanky parade.
Putin’s shrink parade was meant to be a symbol of strength, a show of Russian superiority. Rather, it became a symbol of the war’s debacle.
Because: Sumlenny suspects that Putin could have deployed more tanks. But the Kremlin didn’t want to appear bigger than you are. It was clear to Putin that he had not achieved victory, no large city had been conquered – with the exception of Cherson (…). The announced encirclement of the troops in Donbass has not materialized.”
Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin (69) Photo: Reuters
To put it plainly: “They didn’t want to make themselves a laughing stock.” The credo: “We put on such a super show, while we can’t really present any victories” simply didn’t fit.
Also means: Putin organized a little less propaganda so as not to make himself look ridiculous, but instead made it clear what a war debacle he had experienced in Ukraine so far.
The Russian War Record
▶︎ At least 12 Russian generals fell at the front, the Chief of General Staff was wounded,
▶︎ According to Ukrainian information, 25,000 Russian soldiers died,
▶︎ 3570 tanks and thousands of other vehicles were destroyed or fell to the Ukrainians,
▶︎ 12 ships, including the flagship “Moscow” sunk,
▶︎ 350 helicopters and planes shot down.
︎ In addition, there are thousands of wounded.
