Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has announced that Moscow’s upcoming Victory Day celebrations on May 9, 2022, will have no bearing on the pace of its operations in Ukraine.

Speaking with an Italian media firm on Sunday (May 1, 2022) night, Lavrov insisted that Moscow would not rush to wrap up its so-called “special military operation” in time for the anniversary, which celebrates Nazi Germany’s surrender to allied forces, including the then Soviet Union in 1945.

“Our military will not artificially adjust their actions to any date, including Victory Day. The pace of the operation in Ukraine depends, first of all, on the need to minimise any risks for the civilian population and Russian military personnel.”
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov

What the Celebration Entails

Typically, Russia marks Victory Day with a large military parade in central Moscow and a speech by the President, Vladimir Putin, hailing the country’s leading role in the defeat of fascism in Europe.

But this year’s celebrations will come against the backdrop of Moscow’s bloody military campaign in Ukraine, which Putin has justified with claims that the ex-Soviet country requires “denazification” and other references to World War II.

“We will solemnly celebrate May 9, as we always do; Remember those who fell for the liberation of Russia and other republics of the former USSR, for the liberation of Europe from the Nazi plague.”
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov

Lavrov added that Russia is committed to working to prevent a nuclear war from ever beginning. Thousands of civilians by far have been killed and millions displaced since the start of Russia’s invasion which began on Thursday, February 24, 2022. Moscow revealed that over a thousand of its soldiers have been killed in the operation, with claims by Ukraine that Russia’s losses are much higher.

Latest Developments

Ukrainian authorities are planning to evacuate more civilians from Mariupol on Monday, May 2, 2022, after dozens were finally brought to safety following weeks trapped under heavy fire in the strategic Port city’s Azovstal steel complex.

The United Nations (UN) said on Sunday, May 1, 2022 that a “safe passage operation” is taking place at the Azovstal Steel Plant. According to Kyiv, roughly 100 civilians have been evacuated from the besieged plant, while the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that it is “currently participating” in the operation. But Russia’s Defence Ministry gave a lower figure of 80 civilians, adding: “Those who wished to leave for areas controlled by the Kyiv regime were handed over to UN and ICRC (Red Cross) representatives”.

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his regular daily address to the nation, hailed the successful operation and said more evacuations are expected on Monday, May 2, 2022.

“Today, we finally managed to start the evacuation of people from Azovstal,” Mr. Zelenskyy announced in a video address, adding that they are due to arrive in Ukraine-controlled Zaporizhzhia on Monday, May 2, 2022. The Ukrainian leader also pointed out that“For the first time, there were two days of real ceasefire on this territory. More than a hundred civilians have already been evacuated, women and children first of all,” Mr. Zelenskyy added.

The Head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration later said the evacuation would begin at 7:00 am local time (04:00 GMT).