Victory mania: Why the growing glorification of May 9 in Putin’s Russia?
10 May 2022 |
4:56 pm
In the end, there was no big reveal on Moscow’s Red Square on May 9. But is the devil in the detail of Vladimir Putin's Victory Day speech? In commemorating 1945 win over the Nazis, the Russian president did not declare war on Ukraine or announce a mass mobilisation, defying some expectations. He did however single out the perceived aggression of ''America and its minions”.
Related
1 May
They're calling it the battle of Donbas. After nearly two months of mishaps and setbacks, Russia is putting all its might into a bid to capture the entire east of Ukraine. But will it capture it or flatten it? We ask our guests about the Kremlin's endgame.
21 Apr
One by one, Russia's independent media outlets have been forced to shut down since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, effectively banning all but the official state narrative on the war. The crackdown has sparked a mass exodus of Russian journalists, who fear not only for their jobs but also their lives. Among them is Denis Kataev, who was a TV anchor at the independent Dozhd TV, or TV Rain. He joined us for Perspective.
24 Apr
The western city of Lviv, until recently seen by many as a safe haven, has taken in hundreds of thousands of refugees since the start of Russia's invasion with Ukraine. Under the looming threat of attacks, life goes on.
23 Apr
The Russian military has said it wants "another way" to access Moldova's breakaway Transnistria region. Ukraine has warned Russia seeks to establish new "republics" in occupied areas.
30 Apr
The Greek government condemns Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine — but the Greek people are divided where Moscow is concerned. Leftists revel in Soviet nostalgia, while conservatives embrace the shared Orthodox faith.
27 Apr
India has been reluctant to criticize Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine. The two countries have close and historical ties, especially in the defense industry.
2 May
In a warning to the West not to interfere, Vladimir Putin has his strategic nuclear arsenal on high alert. While analysts believe the risk of an all-out nuclear war is low, they are concerned Putin might use smaller 'tactical' nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
27 Apr
Russian energy giant Gazprom said it would halt gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, raising concerns that Moscow could use energy supplies as blackmail over the conflict in Ukraine.
28 Apr
Pro-Ukrainian conspiracy theories on social media claim that Russian state TV staged footage of President Vladimir Putin attending Orthodox Easter Mass on April 24. Many claim that Putin is in hiding and that the images are pre-recorded or archival footage. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.
1 May
The suspensions are the first since Russia insisted foreign buyers pay for gas in rubles. Both Poland and Bulgaria have said Gazprom are in breach of contact.
30 Apr
The rest of Europe may not be at war, but is it ready for the sacrifices of a wartime economy? The Kremlin shutting the gas tap on Bulgaria and Poland may be but a prelude to a brutally swift transition away from Russian gas and oil. Deals will be dropped, money will be lost.
Latest
1 day ago
We look at reactions to the nomination of Elisabeth Borne, France's first female prime minister in 30 years. How politically strategic is Emmanuel Macron's choice? Also, British footballer Jake Daniels comes out as a gay in a historic moment and is lauded by the British press. Finally, after manterrupting and mansplaining, beware of "hepeating" – when men get credit for women's ideas!
1 day ago
An annual surf competition was held at the weekend on Liberia's coast, in a fishing town that is gaining worldwide recognition for the quality of its waves.
1 day ago
The fast food giant said it was leaving because of the "unpredictable operating environment" and "humanitarian" reasons. McDonald's was quick to set up shop in the Soviet Union in the waning embers of the Cold War.
1 day ago
Australia is counting down to its next federal election on May 21. The environmental crisis is high on voters' minds and smaller parties and independents are gaining momentum by riding a wave of disillusionment over the conservative coalition's lack of climate action. With a hung parliament looking likely, these minor players could force the traditional parties to do more to tackle global warming. Climate change is an increasingly hot-button issue since the country's devastating bushfires of 2019-20. Our correspondents Richelle Harrison Plesse and Gregory Plesse report.
1 day ago
Brooklyn-based duo Bottler (aka producers Pat Butler and Phil Shore) have created a unique soundscape blending a myriad of styles including pop, indie rock, trip-hop and club music. In 2020, they released a double bill of EPs, "Clementine" and "Grow". Now the childhood friends are back with their debut album "Journey Work", in which they’re on a mission to explore and express the full spectrum of human experience. They joined us on Encore! to tell us more.
1 day ago
Israel's police chief has ordered a probe into the actions of officers at the funeral of reporter Shireen Abu Akleh in Jerusalem. Germany's top diplomat, Annalena Baerbock, said she was "deeply shocked" by the events.