Vladimir Putin: The West has launched a “real war” against Russia

The speech came shortly after Kremlin forces attacked Ukrainian targets with cruise missiles.

Today civilization is once again at a turning point, the leader said at the capital’s annual commemorations to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.

A real war has been waged against our motherland, he added.

Putin has repeatedly characterized the war in Ukraine as a proxy conflict with the West since Russia invaded its neighbor more than 14 months ago.

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The Kremlin’s official narrative of the war has painted a picture of an existential conflict with the West, which in Moscow’s view is merely using Ukraine as a tool to destroy Russia, rewrite its history and crush its traditional values . This version of events has dominated Russian state media coverage of the war.

In his speech, Putin insisted that the West’s unrestrained ambitions, arrogance and impunity were to blame for the conflict.

He welcomed soldiers fighting in Ukraine who were present at the parade and concluded his speech: To Russia! To our brave armed forces! To victory!

Earlier, Russia launched a barrage of cruise missiles into Ukraine, hours before the start of Moscow’s parade, which this year is being held amid tight security.

Kremlin forces fired 25 missiles overnight in a wave of attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, adding that air defenses successfully destroyed 23 of them.

In a Telegram post, the air force said eight Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from carriers in the Black Sea to the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

The barrage came as Moscow and other cities hosted military parades and other celebrations for Victory Day, Russia’s biggest secular holiday, which this year has been largely overshadowed by the war in Ukraine.

At least 21 Russian cities canceled May 9 military parades that were a staple of celebrations across Russia for the first time in years.

Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in World War II, another mainstay of the holiday, were also canceled in dozens of cities.

District officials blamed unspecified safety concerns. However, some speculated that the real reason behind the cancellations was the fear that Russians might take portraits of relatives who died in Ukraine, illustrating the extent of Russia’s losses in the long-running conflict.

Moscow was expected to put on a show of force during its iconic Red Square parade, with top-of-the-line military equipment buzzing through it and leaders of former Soviet nations standing alongside Putin.

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Initially, only one of them, Kyrgyz President Sadir Zaparov, was expected to attend, but at the last minute on Monday officials confirmed that leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were also heading to Moscow.

The celebrations followed ambiguous official reports last week that two Ukrainian drones had flown into the heart of Moscow under cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down. The Kremlin described it as an attempt on Mr Putin’s life. Ukraine denied involvement.