Bridge to Peace initiative rallies in the Niagara region

Residents in St. Catharines rallied in support of Ukraine as Russia held a major military parade in Moscow.

People positioned themselves along 14 overpasses throughout the Niagara region, waving flags and signs as part of the Bridge to Peace initiative.

The rally was held to denounce Victory Day celebrations in Russia. Victory Day is held every May 9th in Russia to commemorate the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War II.

In an address, Russian President Vladimir Putin compared the Soviet Union’s fight against Nazi Germany with his war of aggression in Ukraine, falsely claiming the west was planning to invade Russian lands.

Putin spoke to his troops in eastern Ukraine directly, where fierce fighting continues in the Donbas region. Speaking to his troops directly Putin says, “you are fighting for the motherland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of World War II. So that there is no place in the world for executioners, castigators, and Nazis.”

It had been speculated Putin would issue a formal declaration of war or announce a mass mobilization of troops, but he did neither. Russia’s army has failed to give Putin the victory experts say he had hoped to announce. Putin gave no indication when the war will end.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky released a video saying Ukraine won in the second World War and Ukraine will win again.