Daily brief
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated servicemen and all Russians on Victory Day, calling the holiday sacred and linking World War II heroes to participants in the Ukraine war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated there were no attempts to disrupt the celebrations. Putin also spoke against the falsification of WWII history and said love for the homeland is a moral guide.
Anti-war activists confronted Russia’s Victory Day with grim reminders of war crimes.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned Germany's ban on Victory Day songs.
In Narva, Estonia, a banner depicting Putin as a war criminal was displayed.
The Venice Biennale opened with a contested presence of Russia and Israel.