In scaled down military parade, Putin accuses West of seeking to destroy his country

The Russian president Vladimir Putin has claimed “a real war has been unleashed again” against his country – at a distinctly scaled back parade through Moscow’s Red Square, marking the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender.

Mr Putin used the occasion to justify Russia’s war in Ukraine – flanked by a handful of leaders from former Soviet countries.  While 24 Russian cities cancelled their commemorations altogether over security concerns.