Russia Ukraine war latest news: Putin says West encouraging ‘Russophobia’ in angry Victory Day speech

Vladimir Putin has said the West is fueling “Russophobia” as he says an international war is being waged against Moscow.

He said: “Today we waged a real war against ourselves, but we will defend ourselves against international terrorism.

“Neither here, nor in the West, nor in the East, do we have people who would consider themselves our enemies.

“We want to see our future peaceful and stable. We believe that any ideology of domination is unacceptable to us, but Western elites and globalists insist on their exceptional character.

“They provoke conflict and promote Russophobia and nationalism.

“They destroy traditional family values ​​that make a person a person.

“They dictate the will of others and their rules to others. This is a system of robbery and a system of violence.”

Vladimir Putin has congratulated the armed forces fighting for Russia as he said the country is “proud” of their service.

Speaking at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, he said: “Following in the footsteps of our ancestors, we are proud of the participants in this military operation.

“The future of our state depends on you. They fight for Russia. Behind you, your families and friends are waiting for you.”

Vladimir Putin has arrived in Moscow for the Russian Victory Day Parade.

The military parade commemorates the victory of the Soviet Union’s Red Army over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Watch live as Russia holds its annual Victory Day Parade in Moscow’s Red Square to mark victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

President Vladimir Putin is due to deliver a speech Tuesday (9 May) amid tight security following a spate of drone strikes, including on the Kremlin citadel itself, for which Moscow has blamed Kiev.

Victory Day, one of the most important holidays in Russia, commemorates the enormous sacrifices made by the Soviet Union during World War II, which killed around 27 million citizens.

This anniversary is even more emotionally charged as Russia mourns the thousands of soldiers killed in Ukraine’s nearly 15-month war that seems to see no end.

Mr Putin has repeatedly compared the war – which he portrays as fighting “Nazi”-inspired nationalists – to the challenge the Soviet Union faced when Hitler invaded in 1941.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Russia will “victorious” in its fight against what he called “imperialists,” state news agency KCNA said on Tuesday in comments targeting Ukraine and its Western backers like the United States direct .

North Korea has forged closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after invading Ukraine last year, including its subsequent proclamation of having annexed parts of Ukraine that most UN members condemned as illegal.

“We send warm wishes to you, the Russian army and the Russian people in their holy struggle to maintain world peace,” the agency quoted Kim in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kim also congratulated Putin on Tuesday’s victory anniversary, which celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, and said Russia will continue to protect its “autonomy” and the “stability of the region.”

Russia launched a fresh attack on Ukraine Tuesday as Russia celebrated the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in 1945, with Ukrainian air defenses destroying 23 of 25 missiles fired mostly at the capital Kiev, officials said.

The attack – the fifth in May – came a day after Russia launched its largest-ever drone swarm in a renewed aerial campaign unleashed 10 days ago after a pause since early March.

Military officials said there were no casualties and not much damage in Tuesday’s attack.

“As at the front, the aggressor’s plans failed,” Serhiy Popko, head of the military administration of the city of Kyiv, said in comments published on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia is celebrating Victory Day on Tuesday, one of its most important holidays, when thousands of people will line the streets of Moscow’s Red Square to see a military parade scheduled for 0700 GMT and a speech by President Vladimir Putin listen.

“Overnight on the ‘holy’ May 9th, (they) launched an attack on the territory of Ukraine,” the Ukrainian Air Force said on its messaging app Telegram.

Popko said Russian forces were “trying to kill as many civilians as possible that day.”

Popko said Tuesday’s attack was carried out using cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea region.

Falling debris fell on a house in Holosiivskyi district, southwestern Kiev, Kiev Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said on his Telegram news channel, adding that there were no casualties or major damage.

Debris was found on a street in the often-attacked Shevchenkivskyi district of central Kiev.

“Kiev rose again and will rise again in the future!” said Popko.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has arrived in Kiev for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Good to be back in Kiev. Where the values ​​we hold dear are defended every day. So it’s such a fitting place to celebrate Europe Day. I welcome President Zelenskyy’s decision to make May 9th Europe Day here in Ukraine as well,” she said in a tweet.

Water shortages have been a growing problem for Russian-held Donetsk since Ukraine’s invasion last year, and a separatist leader there says the region’s water supply is now dangerously low, the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.

“The Seversky-Donets Canal, which supplies the region, remains largely under Ukrainian control but has often been contested along its long route. Russian forces probably tried to secure the canal to alleviate water shortages in Donetsk,” the defense ministry said.

It added that the Siversky-Donets Canal passes through the town of Chasiv Yar, about 6 km west of Bakhmut.

“Russia’s heavy use of indirect artillery in support of the capture of Bakhmut and surrounding territory is likely to have caused collateral damage to the canal and other regional water infrastructure and undermined Russia’s efforts to address water shortages initially caused by its invasion,” the ministry said.

Russia is likely to build an aqueduct to alleviate water shortages in Donetsk to make up for its lack of success in capturing and maintaining the canal, but it is highly unlikely that this will fully compensate for the occupied regions’ limited access to water, the ministry said .

The Ukrainian military shot down 23 of a total of 25 cruise missiles fired by Russia overnight, officials said.

Russia fired a number of Kalibr and X-101/X-555 cruise missiles overnight, Ukraine’s Air Force said in its Tuesday morning update.

Of those, eight Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from warships in the Black Sea overlooking the eastern regions of the war-torn nation around 10 p.m. last night, the Air Force said.

“As on the front, the aggressor’s plans failed,” Serhiy Popko, head of the military administration of the city of Kyiv, told Telegram.

“(They) are trying to kill as many civilians as possible – on that day,” the official said, referring to the annual Victory Day celebration of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

According to preliminary information, no immediate casualties have been reported so far, he added.

The cruise missiles were fired at Ukraine from the Caspian Sea region.

Today’s attacks – the fifth such bombing this month – came a day after Russia launched its largest ever drone swarm, as part of a renewed air campaign unleashed 10 days ago.