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| Putin visits Crimea to mark holiday celebrating Soviet victory in World War II | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Friday that 2014 would enter “the history of our country” as he visited his nation’s Black Sea Fleet on the annexed peninsula of Crimea, using a holiday that marks the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II to assert Russia’s power over a territory that has deep roots in Russian nationalism but since 1991 had been part of the independent nation of Ukraine. | |
| The visit to the port city of Sevastopol was Putin’s first to Crimea since Russia annexed the peninsula in March, setting off an international crisis that has threatened to throw Ukraine into civil war. The peninsula and its main port, founded by Catherine the Great in 1783, is now firmly back under Russian control. | |
| “The example of Sevastopol shows the world that in places where people are ready to fight for their freedom, the enemy will never conquer,” Putin said. He added that “2014 will make it into the history of Sevastopol and the history of our country, because this is the year that the people of Crimea decided firmly to be with Russia, thus proving their loyalty to historical memory and the memory of our predecessor.” | |
| “We have lots of work in front of us, but we will overcome all the difficulties, because we are together, and that means we have become stronger,” he said. | |
| Putin reviewed sailors in the Bay of Sevastopol, using a small white naval ship to salute a line of Russian warships in turn. After he finished visiting the 10 warships, dozens of fighter jets streaked across the sky, highlighting a military might that Putin has threatened to further unleash on Ukraine if he judges Russian interests there to be threatened. | |
| Putin made the trip after speaking earlier in the day in Moscow, where fighter jets streaked over St. Basil’s Cathedral and missiles and tanks rumbled down Red Square in a triumphant parade that highlighted Russia’s current military might and marked the Soviet Union’s World War II victory. In an address at the square, Putin vowed to defend his nation’s interests. | |
| Swearing that the memories of Russia’s hard-earned World War II battles would never be forgotten, Putin addressed aging veterans and his country on Victory Day, one of the most emotionally charged holidays of the Russian calendar. The commemoration came fresh off Russia’s annexation of Crimea and as thousands of the nations troops massed on the border with Ukraine, poised to invade — and to create new wartime veterans — if Putin gives the command. | Swearing that the memories of Russia’s hard-earned World War II battles would never be forgotten, Putin addressed aging veterans and his country on Victory Day, one of the most emotionally charged holidays of the Russian calendar. The commemoration came fresh off Russia’s annexation of Crimea and as thousands of the nations troops massed on the border with Ukraine, poised to invade — and to create new wartime veterans — if Putin gives the command. |
| Putin made no explicit reference to the tumultuous events in Ukraine in his four-minute address, focusing simply on service and honoring the memory of veterans who gave their lives to defend their country. But the victorious feelings of the moment were clear, and when armored personnel carriers from the Black Sea Fleet that were flying the flag of Crimea rolled past the tribune, the crowd went wild with applause. The peninsula was part of Russia until 1954, when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gave it to Ukraine, and many Russians have wanted it back ever since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union. | Putin made no explicit reference to the tumultuous events in Ukraine in his four-minute address, focusing simply on service and honoring the memory of veterans who gave their lives to defend their country. But the victorious feelings of the moment were clear, and when armored personnel carriers from the Black Sea Fleet that were flying the flag of Crimea rolled past the tribune, the crowd went wild with applause. The peninsula was part of Russia until 1954, when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gave it to Ukraine, and many Russians have wanted it back ever since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union. |
| “We will never allow the betrayal and oblivion of the heroes, all those who selflessly safeguarded peace on our planet,” Putin said, speaking on a tribune in front of the tomb of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union. “We will take care of Russia and its glorious history, and we will always put service to the motherland at the very top. That is how it has always been in our country.” | “We will never allow the betrayal and oblivion of the heroes, all those who selflessly safeguarded peace on our planet,” Putin said, speaking on a tribune in front of the tomb of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union. “We will take care of Russia and its glorious history, and we will always put service to the motherland at the very top. That is how it has always been in our country.” |
| On a warm spring day, 11,000 soldiers and more than 150 military vehicles, including Iskander-M intercontinental ballistic missiles, rocket launchers and dozens of tanks, paraded across Red Square, past St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin. Under a crystal blue sky — the government seeded clouds in advance so that they disappeared — 69 planes and helicopters streaked above a crowd of veterans and their guests, marking 69 years since the 1945 victory over Nazism. Many of the aging veterans were wearing a chestful of medals, which clinked in the wind. | On a warm spring day, 11,000 soldiers and more than 150 military vehicles, including Iskander-M intercontinental ballistic missiles, rocket launchers and dozens of tanks, paraded across Red Square, past St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin. Under a crystal blue sky — the government seeded clouds in advance so that they disappeared — 69 planes and helicopters streaked above a crowd of veterans and their guests, marking 69 years since the 1945 victory over Nazism. Many of the aging veterans were wearing a chestful of medals, which clinked in the wind. |
| During Putin’s more than 14 years in power in Russia, he has turned Victory Day, once a somber day devoted primarily to private remembrances of wartime victims, into the military parade that it is today. Red banners, stars and the hammer-and-sickle emblem of the Soviet Union have festooned Moscow’s streets in recent days. | During Putin’s more than 14 years in power in Russia, he has turned Victory Day, once a somber day devoted primarily to private remembrances of wartime victims, into the military parade that it is today. Red banners, stars and the hammer-and-sickle emblem of the Soviet Union have festooned Moscow’s streets in recent days. |
| The holiday came amid escalating violence in Ukraine that threatens to worsen within days, with Victory Day commemorations on Friday providing new flash points for confrontation and a planned Sunday independence referendum in Ukraine’s east that has been organized by pro-Russian separatists. If that poll sparks further deaths, Russia might invade, having promised that it would defend Russian interests in Ukraine if they came under attack. | The holiday came amid escalating violence in Ukraine that threatens to worsen within days, with Victory Day commemorations on Friday providing new flash points for confrontation and a planned Sunday independence referendum in Ukraine’s east that has been organized by pro-Russian separatists. If that poll sparks further deaths, Russia might invade, having promised that it would defend Russian interests in Ukraine if they came under attack. |
| Putin on Thursday presided over massive military exercises that appeared designed to spotlight his country’s enduring might, with missiles streaking across Russia and rockets hailing down on target ranges. | Putin on Thursday presided over massive military exercises that appeared designed to spotlight his country’s enduring might, with missiles streaking across Russia and rockets hailing down on target ranges. |
| That came a day after he appeared to seek conciliation when he called for the referendum to be postponed, but the loosely organized band of separatists quickly decided that they would proceed anyway, in part, some said, because momentum was behind them. Last week, clashes erupted in the previously peaceful port city of Odessa, leaving more than 40 people dead, most of them pro-Russian protesters who were trapped in a blaze when a building was set on fire. | That came a day after he appeared to seek conciliation when he called for the referendum to be postponed, but the loosely organized band of separatists quickly decided that they would proceed anyway, in part, some said, because momentum was behind them. Last week, clashes erupted in the previously peaceful port city of Odessa, leaving more than 40 people dead, most of them pro-Russian protesters who were trapped in a blaze when a building was set on fire. |
| Russian television stations — all of which are now pro-Kremlin after the more skeptical TV Rain was pushed off cable packages in January — have devoted nonstop programming to cataloging allegations of abuse in Ukraine, resurrecting World War II-era language to describe portions of Ukrainian nationalists as fascists and Nazis. Putin’s approval ratings have soared to multi-year heights, above 80 percent. | Russian television stations — all of which are now pro-Kremlin after the more skeptical TV Rain was pushed off cable packages in January — have devoted nonstop programming to cataloging allegations of abuse in Ukraine, resurrecting World War II-era language to describe portions of Ukrainian nationalists as fascists and Nazis. Putin’s approval ratings have soared to multi-year heights, above 80 percent. |
| At the parade, a dwindling band of veterans — almost all of whom are 87 or older in a nation where life expectancy for men even now hovers below 65 — wore medals and their faded green and blue uniforms. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu saluted in a Soviet-era Zil limousine that slowly drove him past scores of troops. Then Russia’s white, blue and red flag and the wartime red hammer-and-sickle flag of the Soviet Union were marched into the square, accompanied by a wartime-era march. | At the parade, a dwindling band of veterans — almost all of whom are 87 or older in a nation where life expectancy for men even now hovers below 65 — wore medals and their faded green and blue uniforms. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu saluted in a Soviet-era Zil limousine that slowly drove him past scores of troops. Then Russia’s white, blue and red flag and the wartime red hammer-and-sickle flag of the Soviet Union were marched into the square, accompanied by a wartime-era march. |
| Putin spoke, wearing a red tie and the black-and-orange St. George’s Ribbon that is a tsarist-era military order of valor but has been repurposed in recent years as a way to honor veterans and which on Friday was on almost every lapel in Moscow. | Putin spoke, wearing a red tie and the black-and-orange St. George’s Ribbon that is a tsarist-era military order of valor but has been repurposed in recent years as a way to honor veterans and which on Friday was on almost every lapel in Moscow. |
| “Today, we are honoring the memory of those killed in the war, those who are not with us today,” Putin said. “Every family honors its devotion to the motherland. A continuous link between generations is our national wealth. The strength and dignity of Russia is based on it.” | “Today, we are honoring the memory of those killed in the war, those who are not with us today,” Putin said. “Every family honors its devotion to the motherland. A continuous link between generations is our national wealth. The strength and dignity of Russia is based on it.” |
| Natasha Abbakumova contributed to this report. | Natasha Abbakumova contributed to this report. |