West has unleashed ‘real war’ against Russia, Putin tells Victory Day parade

Russian soldiers march towards Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his country’s Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square on Tuesday that “a real war” has been unleashed against Russia by the West’s “untamed ambitions”, shortly after the Kremlin’s forces rained cruise missiles on Ukrainian targets.

“Today civilisation is once again at a decisive turning point,” the leader said at the capital’s annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.