TANKS REIGN AT PUTIN’S PARADE
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged that Russia will defend its national interests “firmly”, as he oversaw a military parade to mark the 76th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.
The parade came amid rising tensions with the West over a host of issues including alleged Kremlin cyberhacking and Russia’s military threat to Ukraine. The two sides have also engaged in recent tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.
Nuclear missile launchers, tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other military hardware rolled through Red Square during a parade involving 12,000 Russian troops, while fighter jets and helicopters roared overhead.
“We will firmly defend our national interests to ensure the safety of our people,” said Mr Putin as he hailed Russia’s “valiant” armed forces.
He also lashed out at what he said were growing anti-Russian attitudes in the West.
Mr Putin praised the Soviet people for “freeing” Europe from the “plague” of Nazism, but added: “Unfortunately, many of the ideologies of the Nazis — those who were obsessed with the delusional theory of their exclusiveness — are again trying to be put into service.”