Putin: Russian Fighters in Ukraine Advancing Despite NATO Backing of ‘Aggressive Force’
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a defiant message during the annual Victory Day parade on Red Square on Saturday, framing the war in Ukraine as an existential battle against a collective West that aims to destroy Russia.
In a speech marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, Putin praised Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, claiming they are “advancing” despite facing an “aggressive force” backed by the entire NATO alliance.
“Our fighters in Ukraine are confronting an aggressive force backed by the entire NATO bloc, and despite this, they continue to advance.”
— President Vladimir Putin, Russia
The Russian leader did not specify the “aggressive force” by name. However, since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, the Kremlin has consistently characterized Ukraine as a puppet of the West and a tool of NATO expansion, rather than a sovereign nation defending itself against an unprovoked assault.
By invoking NATO, Putin was appealing to a domestic audience, stoking fears of the alliance’s expansion and framing the war as a patriotic defense of the Russian homeland. On the battlefield, Russia has made slow but steady gains in recent months, capturing the city of Avdiivka (Donetsk region) in February and intensifying pressure on Ukrainian positions in the east.
However, Ukraine has continued to launch drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, striking oil refineries and military airfields, including a strike on a Su-57 airfield in Astrakhan Oblast that damaged several advanced fighter jets .
🎖️ A Call to Arms: Fighting the ‘Revival of Nazism’
Putin also used the Victory Day platform to draw an explicit parallel between the war in Ukraine and the Great Patriotic War, calling on Russians to honor the memory of their ancestors who defeated the Nazis.
“We are doing everything to ensure that the defeat of the Nazi ideology and the revival of Nazism do not happen again,” Putin said, repeating the Kremlin’s central justification for the war — the false claim that Ukraine is run by a “neo-Nazi” regime.
“This determines our determination, our will, to defend our interests, our people, our moral values, our traditions, our culture, and our language,” he added.
The presence of foreign troops from allied nations — particularly a contingent from North Korea — marching in formation underscored the shifting global alliances the war has forged. Their presence was a deliberate visual message to the West that Russia is not isolated .
🛡️ A Scaled‑Back Parade
Notably, the military procession on Red Square did not feature the heavy armor (tanks and missile launchers) that has been a staple of the parade for decades — the first time in many years that heavy equipment has been absent from the display. The reason, observers suggest, is that Russia is conserving its remaining tank fleet for the front lines in Ukraine, and the absence of heavy armor may also reflect security concerns about Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow.
Ukrainian drones struck an upmarket Moscow high-rise earlier this week, and the Kremlin has imposed a no-fly zone over the capital for the duration of the parade .
📋 Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Putin’s Claim | Russian fighters in Ukraine are advancing despite facing an “aggressive force” backed by “the entire NATO bloc” |
| Framing | Putin frames the war as a continuation of the Great Patriotic War; a defense against the “revival of Nazism” |
| Battlefield Reality | Russian forces have made slow but steady gains in the east; Ukraine continues to launch deep strikes inside Russia |
| Parade Specifics | No heavy military equipment (tanks, missile launchers) was displayed — first time in years |
| Foreign Troops | North Korean contingent among the units marching |
| Context | Trump-brokered three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine began May 9 |
Follow Reflecto News for continuous updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, Victory Day developments, and all breaking news from Moscow and Kyiv.
This article is the intellectual property of Reflecto News. Redistribution without attribution is prohibited. For syndication or media inquiries, please contact the editorial team.