Putin times his inauguration with Moscow's annual Victory Day parade marking ... trends now
Tanks and columns of troops are massing in Moscow ahead of Russia's annual Victory Day - timed this year to coincide with Vladimir Putin's latest presidential inauguration after another election victory denounced as a 'sham'.
The despot is set for another six years in the Kremlin after emphatically and unsurprisingly winning March's presidential poll, with his new term formally beginning on Tuesday.
Two days later there will be the traditional display of military might in the Russian capital's Red Square in Victory Day processions marking the country's contribution to defeating Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
The latest showcase - which has seen large-scale rehearsals at the heart of Moscow today - comes amid reports Russia is losing 1,000 troops per day in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine which was launched back in February 2022.
Mr Putin was today seen attending a mass alongside Orthodox Christians celebrating Easter - while Russian rocket and drone attacks killed two and wounded at least six people in Ukraine overnight.
A Russian serviceman is seen on a T-34 Soviet-era tank in rehearsals ahead of this coming Thursday's Victory Day parades in Russia's capital Moscow
Troops who have been part of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine following the invasion in February 2022 are seen marching in column as part of Victory Day preparations
Victory Day marks the anniversary of Nazi Germany's surrender to the Soviet Union and allies on May 9, 1945, at the end of the Second World War
This year's Victory Day commemorations will come two days after Vladimir Putin's latest inauguration as Russian president after winning March's 'sham' election
Tuesday's inauguration ceremony will involve Mr Putin putting a hand on the constitution as he officially begins his latest term - continuing a spell in power which began on New Year's Eve in 1999 when he became acting president.
He has since been successful in crushing political opposition, running independent-minded journalists out of the country and dispensing with once-favoured rich allies.
Analysts say he remains committed to his war in Ukraine despite early Russian hopes of swiftly toppling Volodymyr Zelensky's regime having been frustrated.
More than 450,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since Mr Putin launched the invasion, Britain's armed forces minister Leo Docherty suggested last week in Parliament.
He also claimed 'tens of thousand more have already deserted since the start of the conflict' and 'over 10,000 Russian armoured vehicles' had been destroyed.
Russia has not released any casualty figures since September 2022 but Ukraine's armed forces said Russia suffered 1,120 casualties in 24 hours last Wednesday.
That made it the fifth day running with numbers of wounded or dead topping 1,000.
But the Russian government is trying the steer the nation's focus to this week's double celebrations, with Mr Putin's inauguration on Tuesday two days ahead of the events marking Victory Day.
Thursday's showcase is seen by many as the country's most important secular holiday, commemorating the Soviet Red Army's capture of German capital Berlin announced on May 9, 1945.
Mr Putin has often attempted to compare the country's Second World War efforts, in which 20million of its people were killed, with his Ukraine mission.
President Vladimir Putin has appeared withdrawn and downcast at an Orthodox Easter mass service, staring off absent-mindedly into the distance, days before his latest inauguration
Russian servicewomen are seen taking part in practice patrols ahead of Thursday's event
Victory Day is widely seen as Russia's most important secular public holiday
Russian military jets were spotted flying over Red Square in the capital Moscow today
Today's rehearsals involved Russian Iskander-M missile launchers driving along Red Square
Columns of servicemen have been marching in practice for Thursday's annual showcase
Servicemen and women have been seen carrying out rehearsals ahead of the heavily-choreographed displays due to take place this Thursday.
