In the “Victory Park” destroyed western tanks from the Ukrainian front are on display.In “Victory Park” (Pobedy) in Moscow Russia’s armed forces have been preparing public opinion for days for the great military parade with a display of trophies from the war in Ukraine, a German Leopard tank and other weapons from NATO countries. “We will win this war too.” says a man who has come with his son to see the “spoils” of war from Ukraine. “History repeats itself” is written at the entrance to the exhibition. The slogan is something of a bridge to the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, which Russia celebrates today, May 9.

Thousands of Muscovites come to the huge park and excitedly see half-destroyed Western tanks, troop transport vehicles and more, including a Marder infantry fighting vehicle and US Abrams tanks. A few hundred meters down there is also a permanent exhibition of weapons from the Second World War. At other booths visitors, including many children, can disassemble and assemble Kalashnikovstry on a typical soldier’s outfit and eat in a field kitchen.

Parade, symbol of increasing militarization

Russia seems to be in a state between victory frenzy and war these days. The traditional highlight of today’s Victory Day is the military parade in Moscow’s Red Square with thousands of soldiers, tanks, missiles and military technology, as well as a speech by the commander-in-chief of the nuclear power, President Vladimir Putin. In other regions of the country, parades have been canceled for security reasons. The Kremlin leader, who on Tuesday solemnly celebrated his fifth inauguration as president, he is likely to justify his war against Ukraine again as a fight against the West and US supremacy.

Officially the financially expensive parade in Moscowwhich always attracts hundreds of thousands of viewers, commemorates the 79th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II on Nazi Germany. Above all, however, it is a show of power. It also mirrors the growing militarization of Russian society in the third year of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, from a growing war economy to new military exercises even for schoolchildren. All of this is likely to make Putin ooze confidence for victory after the latest successes on the front, which have also been confirmed by Western military experts. It is part of his repeated narrative that Russia is invincible and can withstand western sanctionswhich are aimed at to stop his war against Ukraine. At the same time, many people in the country complain that everything has become more expensive.

The Russian economy is driven by two factors: from the restriction of imports resulting in strengthening the demand for domestic products in the context of Western sanctions, and government spending, especially on defense production. Regions with a strong defense industry, such as Tula, Ryazan and Nizhny Novgorod, achieved growth last year above average, argues the well-known Moscow economist Natalya Zubarevich. The defense industry is working non-stop in three shifts to meet the demand for weapons, ammunition and equipment.

The war industry does not bring growth

The Kremlin spends the equivalent of around 110 billion euros on the defense budget alone. Another €34 billion is spent on national security and security services. In total, this amounts to 38.6% of all Russian budget spending or 8% of GDP. This is the first time that Russia has invested more money in the military and security agencies than in social spending. The military also enables social advancement. Soldiers are recruited with high pay. The Ministry of Defense promises Russians going to war more than 2,000 euros. This is a serious lure, especially in regions where wages are sometimes 1/10 of that amount. So the prestige of the soldiers in the area who live by boosting consumption rises, because they can dispose of more than others.

However, development, as it appears, causes structural problems. The already existing shortage of skilled labor is exacerbated by targeting the war economy. Surprisingly, even in the traditionally well-paid oil industry, there is a labor shortage, because more money is flowing into the arms sector and the front line. Competition raises wages without increasing labor productivity. On the contrary, sanctions have the effect of Russia falling behind internationally in terms of technology. The economy thus becomes dependent on the war and the state’s ability to finance it. However, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu continues to put pressure on the arms industry during visits to production facilities.

He stresses the need for more high-tech weapons, including drones for the front line. In relation to US aid to Ukraine, Putin’s confidant urges an acceleration of the pace. “It is necessary to increase the pace of attacks,” Shoigu says at a meeting with military officials in Moscow. And at the same time he praises the fact that only since the beginning of the year about 550 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory have been conquered.

Militarization of children and youth

Even after the US approved a $61 billion aid package, the crisis is not over for Kiev, as it will be some time before the weapons reach the front. Many experienced soldiers have lost their lives. In addition, Ukraine was forced to abandon Avdiivka, an important stronghold, during this period. Experts believe that the country will not be able to regain territory before 2025 at the earliest. Russia, on the other hand, is hoping for a victory at the front in the summer, according to experts, and is targeting the cities of Kharkiv and Odesa with their millions of inhabitants. Putin who now wants to rule for another six years until the next election, preparing for a long war. There is no end in sight to the invasion of Ukraine or in Moscow’s confrontation with the West. Instead, militarization is now reaching schools.

Russian media reports that participants in the war, including convicts for murder and sexual crimes, they appear in school classrooms and deliver “courage lessons”. Photos of girls and boys trying on bulletproof vests in class are doing the rounds on social media. A mother in Moscow says her daughter recently had to wear a gas mask for training, not with much enthusiasm.

Military training drop-in centers are opening across the country, where children practice marksmanship and learn about different types of grenades. There is also training in drones and first aid. “Putin entrusted us with the task of raising a new generation of patriots – how are we going to do this?” says Igor Vorobyov, director of the “Voin” center for military-sports training and patriotic education for young people in Volgograd. Target group pupils and students, aged between 14 and 35, according to the centre’s website. “The main purpose,” says Vorobyov, “is the good preparation of young patriots for military service”.

Editor: Irini Anastasopoulou