Victory Day, celebrated on May 9, is Russia’s most important secular holiday, reflecting its wartime sacrifice. But it’s also used by the Kremlin to bolster patriotism and regain the superpower prestige it lost when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Russia is marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day as a few dozen leaders fly in to watch and meet with Putin. Victory day has become an opportunity for Russia to try to frame the Ukraine war in the same light as the second world war.

Ukraine brands Vladimir Putin's Victory Day ceasefire a 'farce' as Russian forces 'breach it 700 times' - Kyiv has accused Moscow of violating the three-day ceasefire more than 700 times in its first