US issues a security alert for its citizens in Moscow

As Moscow holds the dress rehearsal of the Victory Parade today, Russia has said that the May 9 event cannot be held in Mariupol, the war-devastated port city in southeastern Ukraine.

Over the past few days, many reports had highlighted that the Russian military was planning a grand parade in the ruined city, some even suggesting that the planned procession would feature the Ukrainian prisoners of war.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that the May 9 parade cannot be held in Mariupol this year, but "the time will come and there will be a wide celebration."

Sergei Kiriyenko, the First Deputy Head of the Russian presidential administration, also stated that the procession of the 'Immortal Regiment' - the all-Russian public civil-patriotic movement - cannot be held in Donetsk and Luhansk on this Victory Day.

"There will certainly be Russians there, and there will be many Russians on May 9. But I don't know about any official delegation. It has already been said that this year, of course, this is impossible for obvious reasons. But the time will come, and there will be a wide celebration," Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti quoted Peskov as saying on Victory Day celebrations in Mariupol.

Meanwhile, Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kiev who is also a former heavyweight boxing champion, has announced that no events dedicated to Victory Day will be held in the Ukrainian capital on May 8-9 due to the imposition of martial law.

"Also, please do not ignore the air alarms and immediately follow to the shelter. In the coming days, there is a high probability of rocket fire in all regions of Ukraine. Be aware and take care of your own safety!" Klitschko wrote on his Facebook page.

In Moscow, the United States embassy issued a 'security alert' cautioning the US citizens to avoid public gatherings and festivities during the annual Victory Day celebrations, including the main parade in Red Square, and also asking them to have a contingency plan that does not rely on US government assistance.

"In the past, there have been heightened police presence surrounding these events. Given the ongoing tensions, US citizens should avoid large public gatherings. Be aware of your surroundings and stay alert in locations frequented by tourists/Westerners," the warning stated.

Monday would mark the 77th anniversary of Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The Great Patriotic War, as the Russians call it, began on June 22, 1941 and left deep scars in the minds and souls of each Soviet family by the time it got over in 1945, leaving over eight million Soviet soldiers dead. (IANS)

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