Russia Canceling Military Parades, Preparing For Evacuation
- 17.04.2023, 11:39
The war has come to Russian territory.
Several Russian regions bordering Ukraine have announced the cancellation of traditional May 9 parades for "security reasons". But Moscow still intends to hold a parade, though it has already cancelled the May 1 demonstration. "Peace" is a dangerous word in Russia, one can be imprisoned for it. Meanwhile, residents of Russia's border regions are preparing to evacuate in anticipation of "armageddon," says Obozrevatel.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod region, was the first to announce the changed plans for May 9. According to him, it was decided not to hold the parade, "so as not to provoke the enemy with a large accumulation of vehicles and servicemen in the centre of Belgorod."
Last year the "event" did not take place in Belgorod Oblast either, although neighbouring border regions held parades. For example, soldiers of the Western military district, as well as teams of the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Interior Ministry and other security agencies of the aggressor country "trampled" the streets of Kursk.
However, this year, Kursk has already "refused" to hold a military parade: Governor Roman Starovoit said that following a meeting "with federal colleagues who ensure the region's security", it was decided not to hold a military parade.
It remains to be seen what will be decided in Bryansk, Voronezh and Rostov Regions, or in the Krasnodar Territory: explosions are less frequent there, but the risk of "getting into trouble" is undoubtedly high.
As for the "main parade," which traditionally takes place on Moscow's Red Square, it is, according to Russian dictator Dmitry Peskov's press secretary, "being prepared and planned." Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu even specified that more than 10,000 people and 125 pieces of weaponry and military hardware will take part in the parade.
However, the traditional (and usually numerous) May Day demonstration in Moscow has already been cancelled because of the "threat of terrorist attacks".
"And why is the Russian ISIS so frightened? After all, Putin clearly said - the "special operation" is going according to plan. So don't tremble, don't whine and trust the old bunker chief. Despite his obvious inadequacy, despite his madness and constant lies - believe. Everything is according to plan :)", Kirill Sazonov, a political expert, blogger, and now a volunteer of the AFU, said ironically on his Telegram channel.
The Russian Telegram segment was also caustic about the decision of the native authorities. Some mentioned the very real repression (including for the word "peace") and the authorities' fear of even small gatherings.
And, of course, they said that knowing the "bitter truth" about the Russian army, one can only react to "proud comments" about supposedly unsurpassed hardware with homeric laughter.
"For Putin's era, Victory Day served as a demonstration of Russia's resurgent strength, but this year the holiday could become a symbol of the increasing weakness of his regime," the Ukrainian Information Resistance said.
The cancellation of festivities in Russia comes amid increasing shelling of the regions bordering Ukraine, as well as drone attacks already in "far-flung" regions. Nothing to say when drones have been spotted just 150 kilometres from Moscow.
The Russians themselves are increasingly saying that the war has already arrived on Russian territory. And this turn of events makes them very angry: how could it be? And what about "Kyiv in three days"?
Explosions in Belgorod region, for example, are taking place almost daily. Another surprise happened in the regional centre during the night of April 17: unidentified drones attacked several objects. The fires were visible from several kilometres away - one of them was at a substation.
No one believes that "it will stop" any time soon. Moreover, even those Russians who fanatically counted on the capabilities of the "second army in the world" are now dazed and confused.
"Moreover, the Russian border regions are preparing for evacuation. They are hysterically afraid of the AFU," says a Kharkiv-based source who has distant relatives in Belgorod.
According to him, very few people connect the mysterious "bangs" with the continuous shelling of, for example, Kharkiv region from there. They think it's just "vicious Nazis". However, it is a sacred duty of the AFU defenders to destroy military targets that bring death to Ukrainians.