The most important event of the 20th century: the defeat of European fascism by the Allies and most importantly, by the Soviets, who killed 75% of all the fascists erased from the face of the Earth in WWII, a cool 12 million fascists killed.
The other fascists in Asia, they contributed 3 more million killed and offered themselves as victims of two well-deserved nuclear strikes.
As a result, now the two main fascists nations are weak, docile lapdogs.
This is a celebration of the great fascist die out.
We are seeing now a smaller version of the same in the Ukraines.

Posted by: Johan Kaspar | May 9 2025 8:40 utc | 4

Thanks for the link b
Looks like Russia has a fine day for it
Incredible imagery

Posted by: ld | May 9 2025 8:50 utc | 6

Thanks for the link.
Followed up with an excellent presentation (90 min) in French by the brilliant Annie Lacroix-Riz on the role of the USSR in the Second World War, beginning from before the Munich betrayal of Czechoslovakia in September 1938. Lots of citations from various archives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh8I-proRAY

Posted by: kvp | May 9 2025 9:11 utc | 8

I lost almost all of my Russian relatives in the Great Patriotic War, exterminated by the Nazis and to see the British state and the corporate/state media deny the central role of the Soviet Union in defeating German Fascism, with its 27 million dead, fills me with anger, shame and and an enduring sadness.

Posted by: Barofsky | May 9 2025 9:41 utc | 10

Justpassinby | May 9 2025 9:17 utc | 9
“may the ilk of ursula, kallas et all be reminded forever that their ideology has no place on a peacefull “european continent”.”
Unfortunately, as Ursula truthfully said, peace is not a European value. She spoke simple truth when she said any celebration of the defeat of Nazism goes against European values. We now see once and for all that “European values” are indelibly Nazistic and dedicated to the total destruction of Russia, for its own sake.

Posted by: Flying Dutchman | May 9 2025 9:43 utc | 12

Renewing with the USSR tradition of showing some hardware never seen before was somehow interesting.

Posted by: Savonarole | May 9 2025 9:57 utc | 14

In both WWI and WWII Russia made a massive sacrifice that it should be thanked for. We would also never have known about the Balfour Declaration and Sykes -Picot Agreement without the Russian Revolution. If you research anti-Russian sentiment you’ll find it was only ever concocted out of innuendo, gossip, and what we might call racist intent today. As imperialist and colonialist always did by saying they were barbarians and they had the wrong religion (in Russia’s case the wrong form of Christianity). It’s been going on since medieval times and it is about time it stopped.

Posted by: George | May 9 2025 10:31 utc | 16

Wowee the interview on German TV with Mme Zakharova…ye gods she lays it all out…the knowledge, the logic and reasoning, exposing the Liberal totalitarianism etc etc …on rt, Russia is so lucky to have such a quality person in its government.
Brilliant .Exposes that German politicians cannot think for themselves to make their own Germany, hammers into Merkel Scholz Baerbock etc.

Posted by: Jo | May 9 2025 11:34 utc | 18

To the Victors go the spoils. So, today they have all the rights.
But because doom-n-gloom is the vogue these days, let’s not forget, it was Stalin’s triumph, and the USSR that arose as conqueror, on the backs of Russian serfs.
And we should all be so lucky. After all, today they remember and remain human, while this can’t be said of the Germs or Yanks, or Brits. — who also count themselves to be on the winning side of history.

Posted by: Nothingburgers | May 9 2025 11:56 utc | 20

Amen!

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | May 9 2025 12:01 utc | 22

I imagine that Putin must deeply appreciate the show of support by other world leaders.
This may really shift the momentum – into overdrive.
Suspect Trump wishes he could be there.

Posted by: jared | May 9 2025 12:20 utc | 24

Congratulations on victory day, to all allies and especially the former Soviet Union who bore the overwhelming and staggering human cost and without which victory would not have been achievable no matter how much support and sacrifice from everyone else.
However they too would not have done it on their own. Everything was needed and the outcome was still a very close call, maybe miraculous if such a word can be used with many tens of millions dead. It was ugly and dirty and horrible, that is war.
But now there is a new war, a war with many different fronts and the madness is back in many forms including genocide.
Collectively we did not learn enough from last time, we were straight away unable to gain true peace but now we can see it was much worse than that.
In the new war the front is entirely global and multidimensional in the sense of having so many different aspects. It is right where you are no matter where. It is inside your mind and all other minds just as much as in trenches and bombed out cities and countryside. It is in your hearts.
Find your place. Be ready for sacrifice. Do what you can. Try to get better and more capable. Do not expect anything close to perfection, least of all from yourself. Try to avoid empty and broken promises.
People like to believe there were easy clear choices back then and they like to believe the same now but that’s not how the world is.
Stay true to your own being as best you can.
If you can make those who are passive or who are enemies see or understand what is happening, or make them think new thoughts and see new perspectives then that can be very valuable. The only real way to do this is to provide your own thoughts and feelings in a manner which invites consideration. Avoid information overload, no one can deal with that. Build from the present. Be pleasant but not fake.
In relation to Gaza, Palestine, and the genocide there this can involve spreading acceptance and support for the resistance and communicating how easily the powers in the world could stop the genocide if they only really wanted to.
In relation to the former Ukraine, former Ukrainians, and the attempted genocide there this can involve making those who have taken or been tricked into taking local identity and nationalism to absurd and murderous extremes understand that they have been led into doom and have been and are being used and betrayed against those who would be their best and closest friends: Russia.
In general across the many tens or hundreds of wars and fronts globally the act of providing good information, understanding/awareness, and vigilance concerning the subterfuge and dirty tricks used against people might be the most important overall. Not only in “the Global South” but also in “the West”.
Everyone is under attack. Fight.

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | May 9 2025 12:35 utc | 26

Milton | May 9 2025 12:35 utc | 27
“The closest thing the US has, is the Superbowl pregame ceremony.”
Indeed, it’s been a long time since the US political class has even had politics in any meaningful sense of the term, but rather pseudo-tribal loves and hates (neither based on anything anyone in “politics” actually does; Trump Derangement/Devotion Syndrome is just the most extreme manifestation of a universal condition) which occupy the same psychological space as being a fanatical sports fan.

Posted by: Flying Dutchman | May 9 2025 12:46 utc | 28

While I fully support Irish Neutrality during WWII – too soon after war of independence and civil war and partition …. over 120,000 Irish served in the British forces – and many more in the US forces – & Beckett in the French Resistance … and the heirs of Peter Lacy [who captured Crimea for the Russian Empire] in the Soviet forces …. [we won’ mention Churchill here – no friend of Ireland]
In service to their country: Moving tales of Irishmen who fought in WWII
The stories of Irishmen who served in WWII are deeply moving says Geoffrey Roberts
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20350818.html
and now we are fighting fascism again … I’m not neutral against fascism

Posted by: Don Firineach | May 9 2025 12:50 utc | 30

However it can still be seen that the lower soldier has a wrist watch on both hands.

Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | May 9 2025 12:57 utc | 32

Thanks b for the link to the parade. I watched it all. If leaders in the West have also watched the parade, they surely get the feeling that taking a bellicose attitude toward Asia is a futile approach.

Posted by: Richard L | May 9 2025 13:14 utc | 34

Posted by: Fortuna | May 9 2025 13:11 utc | 34
Tell me about it: 80 years immiseration under the capitalist yoke while the reverse takeover initiated with Operation Paperclip plays out to end with the Fourth Reich and Empress Ursula.
EEC/EC/EU – a big fat round trip to nowhere.

Posted by: ChatNPC | May 9 2025 13:24 utc | 36

It is still impossible to improve on the words of Marsgal of the Soviet Union Georgii Zhukov:
“We have liberated Europe from fascism, and they will never forgive us for it.”

Posted by: malenkov | May 9 2025 13:29 utc | 38

@ Andrew Sarchus | May 9 2025 12:55 utc | 31
Actually Ismailov was wearing only one item per wrist, and one of the two may have been an Adrianov compass. But it’s nice to see where your 9 May priorities lie.

Posted by: malenkov | May 9 2025 13:33 utc | 40

Never much cared for marching band music. Military marching band especially. Listening to this just amazing. A mass of dozens of trumpets and plainly audible that each player is giving it his heartfelt best. Playing in unison and it almost comes across as jazz improv.

Posted by: oldhippie | May 9 2025 13:47 utc | 42

Shining in eternal glory, the Red Army and its gallant heirs

Posted by: Cuffy | May 9 2025 13:59 utc | 44

Don Firineach | May 9 2025 12:50 utc | 30
Many Irishmen who fought in WW1 and WW2 found they were in trouble in Ireland – quite a few had to leave including my wife’s grandfather. Serving in WW1 made him a “Brit” in South Cork…

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | May 9 2025 14:27 utc | 46

Slava rossiya

Posted by: Squeeth | May 9 2025 15:05 utc | 48

great honour and respect to russia for its role in ww2 and beyond into today…

Posted by: james | May 9 2025 15:25 utc | 50

Just finished viewing the 104 photos of the event posted here, and there could’ve been more. The close-ups of the troops as they perform “Eyes Right” going past President Putin’s podium is always revealing, like these and these. And then there’re the remaining vets from WW2. This man I’ve seen at many parades; he’s 102 as I recall. And Here’re a few more.
День Победы!!

Posted by: karlof1 | May 9 2025 15:29 utc | 52

Thanks for this link, B. Love it. That’s what I come to the bar for.
Long live noble Russia and it’s world historic, heroic people! Keep crushing the Nazis wherever and whenever their dirty little heads pop up!

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 9 2025 15:39 utc | 54

Vragtes | May 9 2025 8:24 utc | 3
*** Here in the UK, the ruling class and its craven media continue with its revisionist history of WW2 minimising and even denying the crucial role of Russia and bigging up the west’s involvement.***
Goes further than that — decades of the rulers of the USA claiming every success and just about writing Britain and its casualties out of WW2 … well ok so that’s them (ever-full of Hollywood crap) but the UK Political Establishment has not complained about them doing that.
Which indicates rather a lot about the UK Establishment ….
collaborators and quislings of an 8-decade long US economic, cultural, ideological and military occupation.

Posted by: Cynic | May 9 2025 17:04 utc | 56

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick “The Dick” Schoof, has accidentally revealed that the minimum national military spending percentage for NATO members will be increased to 5% of GDP by 2032
This information was classified, and neither the exact percentage nor the timeframe for its implementation was known until Dick accidentally talked about it during a press conference.
“>https://t.me/Middle_East_Spectator/18232

Posted by: Apollyon | May 9 2025 17:17 utc | 58

@Cynic
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-33578174

Posted by: Apollyon | May 9 2025 17:19 utc | 60

Why does Xi always have that “sour” look.
I imagine that that is considered appropriate in China but comes across as arrogant or disapproving.
The body language between Putin and Xi – not good.
Now, Lukashenko is something else – looks like they would want to skip the ceremony and get a beer.

Posted by: jared | May 9 2025 17:33 utc | 62

Russia’s victory today is the implosion of socialism in 1991. They lost, with a capital ‘L’, the Cold War. And this loss was a win for the serfs, the common man. This is like a cliche but it’s true . . . consider for instance how Solzhenitsyn proudly wore officer stripes at the front, until he crossed his sword with Stalins, and went from hero to zero overnight, ie.,the gulag.
Likely will be the case, that the collapse of our beloved Whore of Babylon, aka, ‘Murka, will reap some eventual dividends too, for the hapless hoodwinked robots. A chance to truly see themselves as they are, without false pretenses. The logical question is at what cost? — and will anyone survive to tell about it?

Posted by: Nothingburgers | May 9 2025 17:42 utc | 64

jared @ 63

Now, Lukashenko is something else – looks like they would want to skip the ceremony and get a beer.

You really have nothing else to keep you busy? Looks to me like Lukashenko was moved enough to shed a tear at the laying of flowers at the eternal flame. Pissing on a commemoration of the defeat of nazi-fascism goes beyond condemnation of trolling to damnation to eternal hellfire.
Hate to tell you but normal people with an honest countenance win wars not the macho cartoon generals of the USA and the lot of one-dimensional pretty boys and girls running the EU, like the shallow Kallas, chosen for nothing other than her central casting Gwyneth Paltrow appeal to the zombies of the golden billion.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | May 9 2025 17:49 utc | 66

Wowee the interview on German TV with Mme Zakharova…ye gods she lays it all out…the knowledge, the logic and reasoning, exposing the Liberal totalitarianism etc etc …on rt, Russia is so lucky to have such a quality person in its government.
Brilliant .Exposes that German politicians cannot think for themselves to make their own Germany, hammers into Merkel Scholz Baerbock etc.
Posted by: Jo | May 9 2025 11:34 utc | 18
=============
Can you provide a link, please?
Thanks.

Posted by: Jane | May 9 2025 18:02 utc | 68

65 – 1991 was the hopefully temporary victory of NATO. Russians living outside of Russia proper suddenly became “occupiers” in Latvia, Estonia and other places, and later in Ukraine. Russia itself was a basket case. The “Western” rage at Putin is really that he has at least partly stopped the rot.

Posted by: Waldorf | May 9 2025 18:05 utc | 70

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | May 9 2025 12:35 utc | 26
Good advice. Copied and saved. Thanks.

Posted by: Lantern Dude | May 9 2025 18:19 utc | 72

Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | May 9 2025 12:55 utc | 31
RE: wristwatches as war badges/souvenirs
<< Cool info. I'm sure there were some Swiss movements in those trophies

Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 9 2025 18:28 utc | 74

Posted by: suzan | May 9 2025 15:37 utc | 54
RE: the U.S. ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy
<< Our U.S. ambassador is currently in Moscow and did receive an invitation from the Kremlin to attend 9 May events on Red Square, but she opted not to go. In that the country she represents is fighting a proxy war against Russia, it would no doubt be hard to fig-leaf her presence during the parade. Until the U.S. lays down arms, it is difficult to imagine any full-on public normality coming from the U.S. Embassy. BTW: Joe nominated Tracy in 2022, she assumed the post in early 2023---and DJT opted to retain her. One of the first ambassadors in a while who speaks Russian, which maybe does not say much in our day & age: Mrs. Nuland was fluent in Russian, having been a Russia Studies Major.

Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 9 2025 18:48 utc | 76

At 09:45 am in the cold Autumn of September 27, 1944 sitting at one of his favourite oak chairs, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (WLC) wrote a letter to Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (JVS).
In WLC’s letter to JVS, one can read:
“I shall take the occasion to repeat tomorrow in the House of Commons what I have said before that it is the Russian army that tore the guts out of the German military machine and is at the present moment holding by far the larger portion of the enemy on its front,”, WLC wrote.
God bless the fatherland.

Posted by: pepe | May 9 2025 19:14 utc | 78

Thanks a lot b.
I’m really impressed by Putin. First, standing for a very long time, handshaking all the incoming guests one by one. And then, standing, standing, walking, walking, handshaking, handshaking and saying something to everybody. I’m the same age. I couldn’t last an hour.
By the way, someone in here mentioned a “sour” body language between him and Xi; IMO it was cordial and brilliant. People really have different impressions …

Posted by: Avtonom | May 9 2025 19:47 utc | 80

US govt and media always de-emphasized the Soviet defeat of Hitler, to boast of US contributions, late
though they were. Lots of Americans had been sympathetic to the Nazis before the war. Since about 1950, our supposed noble opposition to Hitler excused all kinds of atrocities in Vietnam, Iraq, too many other places. 🙁

Posted by: lester | May 9 2025 19:56 utc | 82

Posted by: Exile | May 9 2025 13:17 utc | 36
Translation:
Smrt Fašizmu, Sloboda Narodu

Posted by: Naive | May 9 2025 20:07 utc | 84

From the US embassy in “Kyiv”:
Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Kyiv, Ukraine (May 9, 2025)
“Event: The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has received information concerning a potentially significant air attack that may occur at any time over the next several days. The Embassy, as always, recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.”
I was sort of expecting the Nazi clowns in Kiev to come up with exactly that brilliant idea. Try to bomb Moscow on or around May 9, to derail the ceremony and embarass the Russian government, while counting on the Russians not to retaliate because Kiev’s assorted enablers are all conveniently gathered together in Kiev and Russia wouldn’t dare put them in harm’s way. It’s exactly Zelensky’s MO.
Please, Mother Russia, put an end to this freak show.

Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | May 9 2025 20:28 utc | 86

When the SMO concludes successfully in a full-military victory for Russia, DJT will post on Truth Social that the U.S. won the Ukraine War with a little help from Russia
Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 9 2025 18:36 utc | 76
Hilarious and true!

Posted by: TJandTheBear | May 9 2025 20:41 utc | 88

First, European WW2 victory ceremonies do not acknowledge who did the main work of defeating Hitler, by sacrificing 27 millions of their own people, while American losses in WW2 are way below 1 million, and America had Stalin wait for two years until they finally opened a second front.
Second, they even locked the Russians out of European ceremonies.
Statues commemorating the Russian victory are being torn down in the Baltic States.
Third, UvdL saw to it that nobody in EU (with the exception of Robert Fico) dared to visite the Russian parade.
Fourth, Selenski did all he could to scare potential visitors away from the parade, by threatening a drone attack. It is well known in what spot Putin and his guests are supposed to stay during the parade.
All of the above are targeted at spoiling the Russian holiday, by all possible means they can get hold of. All of this does not relate to the Ukraine war, but if you asked any of these perpetrators for their motives, they would certainly answer that all of these measures are justified by the “cruel and unprovoked Russian war of aggression”.
If similar things happen on a group-person level, it is known as mobbing. It is hard to see why that same expression is not being used for the standoff between the EU countries and Russia. Such revenge seeking of the lowest level is typical for a (German) schoolyard. They aim at inflicting the maximum hurt on Putin, although he has done nothing to deserve it from them.
I think it has really become a competition in Brussels after issuing 16 packages of sanctions, a competiton of producing the most damaging shit, a competition that everybody must join in order to avoid damage to their careers.

Posted by: grunzt | May 9 2025 20:53 utc | 90

Thanks to the Red Army!
From a non socialist.
Without them the world of today would be a much sadder place!
https://youtu.be/_sxTbfeYdO0?si=NAnPvniLt9D9Inrr

Posted by: Aarsupilani | May 9 2025 21:03 utc | 92

grunzt @ 91

…Selenski did all he could to scare potential visitors away from the parade… but if you asked any of these perpetrators for their motives, they would certainly answer that all of these measures are justified by the “cruel and unprovoked Russian war of aggression”

Not sure how real the below is, flip a coin, it would be nice if it was, but there was talk last week that China communicated via France in clear terms to call off their dogs in Ukraine or else there would be serious consequences, this would fit into that. For myself I think NATO-USA and obviously the dogs want to provoke an escalation but not one that would give Russia and its allies the indisputable moral high ground. They are clods, but that’s too big a whoopsie.

China will qualify the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attack on Red Square during the Victory Parade as an attempt to assassinate Xi Jinping and an armed attack by Ukraine. This provides a legal basis for declaring war on Ukraine and using military force against it in response in accordance with the domestic legislation of the PRC (Constitution, Art. 80; National Defense Law, Art. 10-11), the AMVETS urgent digest reports.
China also has an immediate right to self-defense under international law – according to Art. 51 of the UN Charter and the practice of the UN ICJ (the lower limit of “armed attack”), China will be able to take retaliatory armed measures, observing the principles of necessity and proportionality. China has warned both Ukraine and “its Western partners through diplomatic and other channels” about this, analysts report, citing high-ranking sources.
“>https://t.me/ForeignAgentIntel/14656

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | May 9 2025 21:24 utc | 94

Hah!
“Several Ukrainian servicemen invited to take part in the ceremonial parade in honor of Europe Day in London have not responded to calls after the event. According to BBC sources, three Ukrainian servicemen have not returned to their group’s location and are not answering phone calls. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry confirmed the disappearance, but declined to comment on possible reasons.”
If I remember there were only 11 or 12 troops actually marching, so that’s quite the proportion – around 25%.

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | May 9 2025 22:31 utc | 96

Fred Small’s song from album “I Will Stand Fast” commemorating the Elbe Day, the 25th of April 1945, when the American and Soviet troops met at the Elbe River, near Torgau in Germany.
Fred Small – At the Elbe
Well mister I just overheard you talking through your drink
How the Russians lie like rugs how they’ve pushed us to the brink
Now sit right here beside me I’ve an old man’s tale to tell
How Yanks and Reds were friends once at the Elbe.
My name is Joe Polowski I hitched up in ’41
Left my sweetheart in Chicago and I learned to fire a gun
The fog in the Ardennes so thick you could not see your nose
Nor the ghosts in the Belgian wood advancing through the snow.
We left our dead behind us and we scaled the Dragon’s Teeth
With screaming mimis overhead not one of us could sleep
Some fell to the enemy some fell to the creeping cold
And I killed a German sniper who was not fourteen years old.
When a soldier takes a hit my friend it ain’t like Hollywood
Bone and guts go flying and everywhere there’s blood
For a moment he is mystified there must be some mistake
As it all drains out in a crimson lake.
Then April turned the weather and likewise the tide of war
As haggard hungry Germans surrendered by the score
And thank god for the Russians who took the battle’s brunt
And broke the back of the Wermacht along the eastern front. Then..
We saw a burst of lilacs and the river swift and wide
And rest and welcome waiting for us on the other side
And Yanks and Reds laughed out loud to be alive at the Elbe.
We caught the glint of water and upon the distant shore
Men and trucks and horses not German and not ours
No bridge to cross but at the dock a boat securely tied
We blew the chain and rowed like demons for the other side.
But when we stepped up on the land oh Jesus what a sight
Blackened bodies of civilians like driftwood piled high
Cut down by stray artillery — what the hell is it all for
We knelt and cursed the cruelty and madness men call war.
Three Russians approached us, we shook hands and then embraced
Stalingrad had traced its lines of sadness on their face
Upon that field of corpses these weary happy men
Swore an oath that it must never happen again.
And then we wept and cheered and spoke in languages unknown
They poured us Russian vodka by god we drank it down
We sang “The Volga Boatman” they sang “Tavern in the Town”
I never kissed so many men as on that afternoon when..
We saw a burst of lilacs and the river swift and wide
And rest and welcome waiting for us on the other side
And Yanks and Reds laughed out loud to be alive at the Elbe.
But no sooner were we stateside than the cold war headlines read
Commies in the unions! Commies under every bed!
Hurrah the Nazi devil’s down long live the devil Red
And not one word about the oath we swore amongst the dead.
There are kids today who’ll tell you we fought Russia in the war
There are armchair heroes set to settle some old score
There are profiteers and pushers primed to send young men once more
To blow themselves to glory on some godforsaken shore.
So drape my coffin with the flag of the good old USA
Let Yanks in army khaki and Reds in Russian gray
Lower me so gently into the German clay
And speak again the oath we swore that day when
We saw a burst of lilacs and the river swift and wide
And rest and welcome waiting for us on the other side
And Yanks and Reds laughed out loud to be alive at the Elbe.
…at the Elbe
_____________
SFSN

Posted by: scanalyse | May 9 2025 22:49 utc | 98

For many months now Kellogg and Zelensky have insisted on a 30-day ceasefire *before* direct talks or bilateral negotiations can begin between Russia and Ukraine, but neither Kellogg nor Zelensky have explained why exactly this peculiar arrangement is a priori necessary.
Negotiating *first* and *then* deciding on ceasefire particulars would seem commonsensical—-however, we’re aware of countervailing influences to the contrary.
Exhibit A: the UK and France have plotted for these many months to rush Reassurance Forces into various Ukrainian stress points—-Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk, Krivoy Rog—-in order to serve as tripwire troops for a wider war. A wider war would mean the U.S. would be called upon to provide a backstop. Such a thing poses its own kind of trap.
Insisting on a ceasefire *first* seems only to serve the U.S.-led West’s aims, therefore.
It is wise for Russia to remain skeptical.

Posted by: steel_porcupine | May 9 2025 23:32 utc | 100