"Putin Refuses To Recognize Reality."
3- 10.05.2026, 8:56
- 2,080
What is behind the dictator's desire for a parade in Red Square?
This year's Victory Day parade in Moscow was jeopardized by the possibility of Ukrainian strikes. However, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin demanded that it be held at all costs.
Putin's stubbornness on this issue shows his refusal to accept the realities of today. This is according to a new piece by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Putin refuses to accept reality
Analysts believe that Putin's insistence on holding a Victory Day parade despite the threat of Ukrainian strikes reflects his refusal to accept the realities of the current situation.
In the days leading up to May 9, the Kremlin increasingly threatened Ukraine over possible attempts by Kiev to "disrupt" Putin's Red Square parade. The threats included, among other things, promises of a massive ballistic strike on the center of Kiev.
"Putin's demands for a cease-fire during the parade were a deliberate attempt to create a sense of power and control in Russia, while also seeking to avoid the embarrassment of potential Ukrainian strikes during such celebrations," ISW explained.
Although Victory Day has long been a major propaganda holiday in Russia, the Russian dictator's manic fixation on holding a parade in his honor despite the risks of escalation, according to analysts, "underscores Putin's desperate desire to restore Russia to the supposed greatness it had during the Soviet Union."
Putin casts Russia as the "heir" to the USSR, while he sees himself as a modern "Stalin."
In fact, in his May 9 statements, the Russian dictator repeatedly tried to do so. In particular, Putin used Victory Day to position the war in Ukraine as the equivalent of World War II for current generations of Russians.
In his Victory Day speech, the dictator tried to reinforce longstanding attempts to portray Russia as the heir to the USSR and the "superpower" status that the Union had. He positions himself as Stalin's successor within this historical lineage.
Putin claimed that the USSR's successes in the Great Patriotic War "inspire" the occupiers who are now engaged in a war of conquest in Ukraine. He also said that "moral strength, courage and valor" as well as the "ability to endure and overcome difficulties" are "the key to success" for Russia on the battlefield.
The dictator emphasized that Russia's unity makes it strong. Therefore, he said, the front and rear must unite in support of the war.
"Putin has long tried to construct false historical parallels between the war in Ukraine and the USSR's Great Patriotic War in order to rally Russian society in support of the war. Putin notes that the people of the Soviet Union endured hardship for a higher cause. This demonstrates that he is aware of the growing losses that the Russian population is experiencing as a result of the war, as these losses are approaching 1% of Russia's total population. Russians are increasingly bearing the financial costs of the war and the Kremlin is increasing censorship and cell phone restrictions. Putin is trying to convince Russians to accept these ever-increasing costs as necessary to defeat the "greater evil,"" the piece said.
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