Russia is holding a massive show of military might in Moscow, and it’s crucial for Putin

(Source cnbc.com) Russia is holding its annual Victory Day parade in Moscow on Wednesday, commemorating the 75th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s capitulation in World War II.  As well as a day of national celebration, the parade allows Russia to show off the range of its military personnel and equipment to the world.  More than that, however, the event is seen as a way for President Vladimir Putin to cement Russian patriotism and his power base. This year’s parade comes during an unprecedented global health crisis, and the event had to be rescheduled from its original date, on May 9, to June 24. Nonetheless, preparations for the parade have been taking place in Moscow and Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirms that over 13,000 military personnel are taking part in the parade that will include 216 units of military equipment (ranging from tanks to armored vehicles to rocket launchers) and a fly past featuring 75 military aircraft, including fighter jets and helicopters. Russia political analyst Anton Barbashin told CNBC why the Victory Day parade matters so much to the Kremlin. “Victory over the Nazi Germany is by far the biggest and the most significant historical event for contemporary Russia. For the Kremlin it is the most effective way to unite diverse peoples of Russia, it is used to legitimize Kremlin’s foreign policy aspirations and generally (the) Russian attitude towards great power status.