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| Ukraine crisis: Russian victory parade buoyed by Crimea | Ukraine crisis: Russian victory parade buoyed by Crimea |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Russia has held a huge parade to mark 69 years since the Soviets defeated the Nazis, amid a surge of patriotism over the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. | Russia has held a huge parade to mark 69 years since the Soviets defeated the Nazis, amid a surge of patriotism over the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. |
| President Vladimir Putin said it was a day when "patriotism triumphs", and vowed to defend the motherland. | |
| Unconfirmed reports say Mr Putin will visit a parade in Crimea later. | Unconfirmed reports say Mr Putin will visit a parade in Crimea later. |
| Meanwhile, several people are reported to have been injured in a shoot-out between Ukrainian troops and separatists in the town of Mariupol. | Meanwhile, several people are reported to have been injured in a shoot-out between Ukrainian troops and separatists in the town of Mariupol. |
| Festivities in Ukraine will be muted amid fears of provoking further violence in the south and east. | Festivities in Ukraine will be muted amid fears of provoking further violence in the south and east. |
| Moscow denies fomenting pro-Russian separatist unrest in Ukraine. | Moscow denies fomenting pro-Russian separatist unrest in Ukraine. |
| Mr Putin did not mention Ukraine in his speech, instead stressing how the "iron will of the Soviet people" had saved Europe from slavery. | Mr Putin did not mention Ukraine in his speech, instead stressing how the "iron will of the Soviet people" had saved Europe from slavery. |
| He told the crowd that 9 May, known as Victory Day in Russia, was a "day of grief and eternal memory". | He told the crowd that 9 May, known as Victory Day in Russia, was a "day of grief and eternal memory". |
| "It is a holiday when an overwhelming force of patriotism triumphs, when all of us feel particularly acutely what it means to be loyal to the motherland and how important it is to defend its interests," he said. | "It is a holiday when an overwhelming force of patriotism triumphs, when all of us feel particularly acutely what it means to be loyal to the motherland and how important it is to defend its interests," he said. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it would be a pity if Mr Putin were to use the commemorations to visit Crimea. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it would be a pity if Mr Putin were to use the commemorations to visit Crimea. |
| The parade in Moscow traditionally features a display of military hardware and a show of patriotic fervour on Red Square. | The parade in Moscow traditionally features a display of military hardware and a show of patriotic fervour on Red Square. |
| The scope of this year's event was bigger than usual: | The scope of this year's event was bigger than usual: |
| Meanwhile, Ukraine's interim authorities have discouraged public gatherings amid fears that pro-Russian activists might try to stoke violence. | Meanwhile, Ukraine's interim authorities have discouraged public gatherings amid fears that pro-Russian activists might try to stoke violence. |
| "Roadblocks have been set up around our capital, where serious checks are being carried out, because we expect that provocative actions may occur on May 9," said Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov. | "Roadblocks have been set up around our capital, where serious checks are being carried out, because we expect that provocative actions may occur on May 9," said Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchynov. |
| A low-key wreath-laying ceremony is planned in Kiev. | A low-key wreath-laying ceremony is planned in Kiev. |
| Nazi Germany invaded the USSR - which included Ukraine - in June 1941 and advanced almost as far as Moscow before being driven back to Berlin in some of the fiercest fighting of the war. | Nazi Germany invaded the USSR - which included Ukraine - in June 1941 and advanced almost as far as Moscow before being driven back to Berlin in some of the fiercest fighting of the war. |
| Russia estimates that 26.6 million Soviet citizens were killed in the war, about 8.7 million of them members of the armed forces. | Russia estimates that 26.6 million Soviet citizens were killed in the war, about 8.7 million of them members of the armed forces. |
| In south and eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists have said they will go ahead with independence referendums on Sunday. | In south and eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists have said they will go ahead with independence referendums on Sunday. |
| Mr Putin had called for the referendums on autonomy to be postponed to create the conditions for dialogue. | Mr Putin had called for the referendums on autonomy to be postponed to create the conditions for dialogue. |
| Activists remain in control of many official buildings across the south and east despite a military operation by Kiev to remove them. Dozens of people have been killed in the unrest. | Activists remain in control of many official buildings across the south and east despite a military operation by Kiev to remove them. Dozens of people have been killed in the unrest. |
| Ukraine is preparing for elections on 25 May following the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February by pro-Western protesters. | Ukraine is preparing for elections on 25 May following the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February by pro-Western protesters. |
| Are you in Moscow? Did you see or take part in the Victory Day parade? You can email your experiences to us at Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject Russia parade. | Are you in Moscow? Did you see or take part in the Victory Day parade? You can email your experiences to us at Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject Russia parade. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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