Putin Reiterates Nazism Charge Against Ukraine In Victory Day Speech, Says Russia Faced 'Unacceptable Threat'

In his Feb 24 announcement, Putin had declared that the Russian operation was aimed at "demilitarisation" of Ukraine to remove a perceived military threat to Russia by "neo-Nazis."

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said that Russian forces in Ukraine were defending the Motherland from an "absolutely unacceptable threat," as he addressed the annual Victory Day parade marking victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The former KGB spy reiterated his claims about Nazism in Ukraine as he said that Russian forces were continuing the battle against it, news agency AFP reported. Putin, in his speech to thousands of troops gathered in Moscow's Red Square, stressed that it was important "to do everything so that the horror of a global war does not happen again."

As per the Associated Press, Vladimir Putin cast Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine as a forced response to Western policies.

Speaking at a military parade marking the World War II victory over the Nazis, the Russian President drew parallels between the Red Army's fighting against Nazi troops and the Russian forces' action in Ukraine. 

According to him, the offensive in Ukraine was a timely and necessary move to ward off potential aggression.

He added that the Russian troops were fighting for the country's security in Ukraine and observed a minute of silence to honor the troops who fell in combat

In his Feb 24 announcement of the military operation, Putin had declared that the Russian operation was aimed at "demilitarisation" of Ukraine to remove a perceived military threat to Russia by "neo-Nazis."

The Victory Day parades began in Russia on Monday as people in Vladivostok took to the streets to watch the annual parade marking Russia's 1945 victory over Nazi Germany.

This year's parades are expected to justify Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the operation that has gone on longer and cost more than what Moscow expected.

Ukraine Won't Allow Russia To "Appropriate" WWII Victory Over Nazism: Zelensky 

Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday said that Ukraine won't allow Russia to "appropriate" WWII victory over Nazism.

"We won then. We will win now," he asserted on the WWII anniversary, as quoted by news agency AFP.

In another important development, Ukraine's military on Monday warned that there is a high probability of missile strikes amid Russia's war on the country.

The warning came just ahead of Russia's planned Victory Day parade in Moscow, reported AP.

According to the AP's report, the Ukrainian military's general staff also stated that in Russian-controlled areas of Zaporizhzhia, Russian troops had starting seizing personal documents from the local population without good reason.

Ukraine alleged that it was done to force the local people to take part in Victory Day commemorations there.

Ukraine's military warned that Russia had located 19 battalion tactical groups in Russia's Belgorod region, just across the border. Those groups likely consist of 15,200 troops with tanks, missile batteries, and other weaponry.

Moscow's forces had pressed their attack on Ukrainian defenders inside Mariupol's steel plant in an apparent race to capture the city ahead of Russia's Victory Day holiday.

More than 60 people were feared dead on Sunday after a Russian bomb flattened a school being used as a shelter, Ukrainian officials said, as reported by the AP.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was appalled by the reported school bombing in the eastern village of Bilohorivka, stressing that it was another reminder that civilians pay the highest price in war.

In recent days, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy was among those warning that Russian attacks would only worsen in the lead-up to Victory Day.

(With Inputs By Agencies)