Kremlin: No parade for Russian Victory Day in Donnetsk and Luhansk

The Victory Parade on May 9th cannot still be held”, said Vladimir Putin Deputy Chief of Staff Sergei Kiriyenko, quoted by Russian state news agency Ria.

Speaking at a square in Marioupol, Kiriyaenko was quoted by the Russian state newspaper Rossiya as saying: Yes, it is impossible to hold a march or a victory parade in Donnetsk or Luhansk on May 9th, but that time will come and come soon. ”

According to the Ukrainian newspaper Pravda, this would be the first time no May 9th parade will be held in Luhansk and Donetsk since 2014, when those territories were occupied by Russia.

Ukrainian officials said yesterday that Russian forces were preparing for a military parade in the town of Marioupol. In a statement in Telegram, Ukraine's intelligent service said Kiryenko had arrived in Marioupol to prepare for the parade.

Marioupol will become the centre of celebrations, Ukraine's intelligence said, adding: the city's <x0-ways are being cleaned urgently, waste and bodies are being removed, as well as ammunition that did not explode. ”

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu did not confirm that the parade would take place in Marioupol when asked about his country's victory day preparations, the AFP reported.