Noting the one solitary 'vintage' T-34 tank on display, the U.K.'s Defense Ministry said that despite heavy losses in Ukraine, Russia could have fielded more armored vehicles but that 'the authorities likely refrained from doing so because they want to avoid domestic criticism about prioritising parades over combat operations.' which they both denied) acting as a precursor to - and justification for - a lower-profile event.īut military analysts noted that the Kremlin was also likely keen to avoid any opportunity for public criticism of its invasion, which it still maintains is a 'special military operation' - the only mention of war on Tuesday being Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim to crowds in Red Square that 'a real war is being waged against our Motherland' despite the fact that Russia invaded its neighbor Ukraine. Security concerns were the ostensible reason for scaled-back Victory Day events in Russia, with an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin last week (that Russia blamed on Ukraine and the U.S. This year, however, the only tank on display was a T-34 model dating back to World War II.' 'For the past two decades, Vladimir Putin has used Victory Day to showcase modern Russia's resurgence as a military superpower, with dozens of the very latest tanks typically taking part in each annual parade.

'It would be hard to image a more fitting symbol of Russia's declining military fortunes than the sight of a solitary Stalin-era tank trundling across Red Square during the country's traditional Victory Day celebrations on May 9,' Peter Dickinson, the editor of the UkraineAlert blog at the Atlantic Council, commented Tuesday. The fact that only one Stalin-era tank was on display in the military parade through Red Square was particularly eye-catching, analysts noted. There were also far fewer troops and military hardware on show than in previous years. In Moscow on Tuesday, the military parade was more downbeat, with no fly-past or 'Immortal Regiment' processions - which are usually large-scale public events to commemorate those killed in World War II. This year's military parade through Red Square in Moscow and celebrations around the country were noticeably smaller than in previous years or entirely canceled, with six regions (including annexed Crimea) and at least 20 cities halting their commemorations. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit

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