Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has criticised the invitation of members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to a Victory Day military march in Britain, according to his statement to Russian media.
“To invite followers of neo-Nazi elements and those who glorify outright neo-Nazis in their country to the Victory Day celebrations, well this is, of course, not just disrespect, disrespect for those Britons, for those British veterans who gave their lives during the Second World War. This is, in Russian, blasphemy,” the Kremlin speaker said.
Ukrainian military personnel will join a British military procession in London on 5 May to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, the UK government announced on 3 May.
A variety of events are planned in the UK to mark the anniversary. In London, they will culminate on 8 May with a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey with the royal family in attendance.
8 May is celebrated in Great Britain, France, the United States and other countries as the date of unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945. In Ukraine, the date is honoured as the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation.
Russia, which joined the fight against the Nazis as part of the Soviet Union from 1941, commemorates the event on 9 May. In Ukraine, 9 May is Victory over Nazism in World War II Day
On 8 May at noon UK time, Britain will stand in a two-minute nationwide silence to remember and thank those who fought for freedom, the government said in a statement.