May 9 is approaching, a “sacred day” for Putin’s Russia. Unlike most countries who commemorate the victims of the WWII on May 8, Russia and the post-Soviet states celebrate the USSR’s victory over Nazi Germany. There is a clear contrast between the spirits of two memorial events. Russia’s version does not centre around human lives lost in WWII; it is the Victory Day that justifies killings in the name of Russian military triumph. The victory of the “grandfathers who fought” is an excuse for past and present crimes committed by Russia for glory and intimidation.
Putin’s previous plan to achieve any victorious result in the war with Ukraine has clearly failed. The autocrat has little to put on the traditional victory-frenzied table on Victory Day in 2022. According to CNN, Putin may make an official declaration of war on Ukraine on May 9. The Russian masses have expected nothing less than a quick victory in Ukraine. Putin will need to be exceptionally persuasive on the 2022 Victory Day, if he decides to announce mobilization of the Russian reserve forces to continue the war.
Ukraine in Flames #55 will unveil propaganda stunts that happen on Victory Day every year in Russia and discuss possible developments in the war after May 9, 2022.
Speakers: Galia Ackerman, French writer, historian, journalist, author of “The Immortal Regiment. Putin’s Holy War” Vitalii Portnikov, Ukrainian journalist and publicist Roman Osadchuk, researcher at Digital Forensic Research Lab Ksenia Illiuk, analyst at Detector Media.
UKRAINE IN FLAMES project is created by Ukraine Crisis Media Center, Ukrainian Catholic University’s analitical center and NGO “Euroatlantic Course”. We are aiming at searching a loud support for Ukraine in the war started by Russia on the 24th of February 2022.
If you want to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, check the link with recommendations by Ukraine Crisis Media Center – https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine.
NGO Euroatlantic Course collects donations to support Ukrainian Army and civilians – https://eac.org.ua/en/main-page/.
