Thread by @khodorkovsky_en

Unsettling reality behind the pomp of Victory Day parade in Moscow:

Among those honored next to Putin were soldiers from units accused of war crimes in Ukraine.

🧵This event, meant to celebrate victory over fascism, now serves to justify Putin’s own fascistic invasion

The parade featured soldiers who fought in Ukraine, some from units accused of war crimes by Ukrainian authorities, identified @agents_media

For instance, troops from the 55th Motor Rifle Brigade, which allegedly held 350 Yahidne villagers captive in a school basement for a month, were among those marching

Sr. Lt. Chuldum-ool, sitting close to Putin, received the "Hero of Russia" title for his actions in Ukraine. In Dec. 2023, he reportedly used grenade launchers to destroy two Ukrainian military vehicles and killed around 10 soldiers near Vodyane, Donetsk Oblast.

Col. Azatbek Omurbekov, who took part in the Bucha atrocities, led the tank column in the Victory Day parade in Khabarovsk for the second consecutive year. Omurbekov's subordinates accused him of ordering the killing of civilians in Ukraine: storage.googleapis.com/istories/en/in…

Maj. Dudko, deputy commander of the 124th Tank Battalion, 76th Guards Air Assault Division, was also present. He was awarded the "Hero of Russia" title after his battalion allegedly destroyed about 20 units of equipment and killed around 200 Ukrainian soldiers in Feb. 2022.

Maj. Sergey Bacherikov, commander of the 27th Separate Brigade’s flamethrower unit, was awarded the “Hero of Russia” medal after allegedly destroying ten Ukrainian military vehicles and killing soldiers while covering a Russian retreat in Aug. 2022.

This year, the parades across the country were heavily infused with pro-war propaganda. In Novorossiysk, a 'BARS-11' volunteer unit marched with 'Z' armbands, an ominous symbol of the aggressive military campaign against Ukraine.

Military recruitment booths were set up nearby, and children posed with weapons on live TV.

In Kaspiysk, the prime minister of Dagestan hailed troops for "defending traditional values" in Ukraine. In Stavropol, they praised the 90th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade for its role in Ukraine.

In his speech today, Putin accused the West of reviving Nazism and distorting history. He did all he could to present those fighting his illegal war against Ukraine as heroes on the same level as WWII veterans.

This couldn't be further from the truth. These new "heroes" are bombing the WWII veterans in Ukraine — many who survived Hitler, are now being killed by Putin.

Meanwhile, the wife of one of these “heroes” was arrested, together with her small child, for daring to demand conscripts be returned home during a memorial event in Moscow.

All the “heroes” rhetoric is just that — the second a soldier or family member dares to speak out, they are immediately treated as a traitor

The regime's propaganda has spent years attempting to turn Victory Day into a grandiose celebration of modern Russian military strength, instead of one on which we remember those who suffered through humanity's darkest years.

But Victory Day does not belong to Putin, or to those beneath him who give orders to murder innocents and bomb cities in Ukraine. It belongs to our grandmothers and grandfathers, who fought for the lives and freedom of their people.

Many countries love military spectacle, and Russia is no exception. Putin is using it to make up for his lack of real legitimacy and to strengthen his grip on power.

But don't be fooled: Putin is an illegitimate president and should be treated as such. His manipulation of historical narratives and the glorification of war serve only to maintain his grip on power, not to honor the true sacrifices of the past.

We can and should honor those who fought against fascism in the 1940s. We just have to be absolutely clear in separating from Putin's treacherous propaganda.

I try to cast light on the nuances of Russian politics, which often go unnoticed by mainstream media. Follow @khodorkovsky_en for more updates!