Putin says Russia fighting for motherland in Ukraine in Victory Day speech

BBC News:

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russian forces in Ukraine were fighting for the future of their motherland, in his annual address marking victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

Despite rumours he would make a major announcement his speech stuck largely to defending Russia’s invasion.

He tied the war in Ukraine to victory in 1945, blaming the West and Nato for rejecting security demands.

Almost 10 weeks into the invasion, civilian casualties continue to mount.

A Russian attack on a school on Sunday is thought to have claimed the lives of 60 civilians and Ukrainian towns in the Luhansk region came under further bombardment on Monday.

Flanked by military top brass, Russia’s leader spoke of Ukrainians as fascists, repeating his false claim that the democratic government in Kyiv was run by neo-Nazis.