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The Russian military ignored Vladimir Putin’s three-day ceasefire and continued its attacks on Ukraine as Moscow indulged in grand World War Two commemorations.
In the Kharkiv region alone, on the first day of a supposed pause to the fighting, the local media service recorded nearly 500 kamikaze drone attacks, combat actions and instances where Russians shot at troops defending the area.
On the day of Moscow’s "victory day parade", the Ukrainian Air Force reported that the border areas of the Sumy region were terrorised with more than 100 guided aerial bombs.
Speaking to local media, Colonel Yuriy Ignat said the bombardment took place as festivities in Red Square were in full swing.
"Right during Putin’s ‘victory parade’ Russian tactical aviation was carrying out strikes on the Sumy region," he said.
As Red Square welcomed foreign dignitaries, including Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the cobbled stones of Kharkiv’s Freedom Square lay empty.
Oleksandr Legezin, 55, branded Putin’s suggestion that hostilities would be suspended a “lie” as he walked through the deserted city centre.
“Look over there,” he said, gesturing to the former council offices, which have been heavily bombed, “our institutions, universities, everything has been destroyed. When they are talking about ceasefires, they are lying.
“I don’t care what they do in Moscow, I don’t have any relationship with Russian people. I don’t like them. They can shout if they want, I won’t listen. Rememberence should be about inward reflection, not [these parades].”
Other passers by who didn’t wish to be quoted offered harsher verdicts. “I hope a nuclear bomb falls on Red Square,” one said, “they can go f**k themselves,” another suggested.
Ina, 24, from the Donetsk region, was also unimpressed with the pageantry in Red Square.
“I think that we should definitely remember those who died during the Second World War and keep memories of previous generations alive. It’s very important,” she said.
“[But] what is going on here is really bad. This war has torn families apart, some have relatives in Russia whom they are completely separated from.”
The young woman, who works as a barmaid while studying in the city, since the full-scale invasion, her family has been scattered across the country and she misses them badly.
“This war needs to end as soon as possible. Putin needs to take his troops and go home. We didn’t invade Russia, it was unprovoked. All we want is to return our territories and protect our land and people.
“They can do what they want in Moscow [with the parade] we don’t care. I am only dreaming of the end of the war.”
English (US) · 