Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of the Battle of Stalingrad with a speech in Volgograd, the modern name for the city. During the speech, Putin compared Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the fight against Nazi Germany. He cited Germany's decision to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine as evidence that history was repeating itself and claimed that Russia was once again being threatened by German tanks.

In response to these threats, Putin hinted that Russia could move beyond conventional weapons and that those who hope to defeat Russia on the battlefield do not understand the consequences of a modern war with Russia. He stated that Moscow had the means to respond and that it would not be limited to the use of armored hardware.

Throughout the war in Ukraine, Putin has sought to present the conflict as a battle against nationalists and Nazis, and he returned to this theme in his speech. He claimed that the ideology of Nazism in its modern manifestation creates direct threats to Russia's security and that Russia is forced to repulse the aggression of the West. Despite these threats, Putin vowed that Moscow had an answer for any country that threatened it.

In addition to marking the anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad, Putin also visited the grave of the Soviet marshal who oversaw the defense of the city and led a moment of silence for those who died in the battle. He also laid flowers at the main memorial complex. Earlier in the week, a new bust of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin was unveiled in Volgograd. Stalin was accused of orchestrating the Holodomor, a famine in Ukraine that killed an estimated 5 million people and was recognized as a genocide earlier this week in Bulgaria.


  • Vladimir Putin has compared Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the fight against Nazi Germany in a speech marking the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of the Battle of Stalingrad.
  • He claims that the presence of German Leopard tanks in Ukraine is repeating history.
  • The invasion of Ukraine prompted Western countries to send weapons and aid to the government in Kyiv.
  • Putin hinted that he may move beyond conventional weapons in response to threats.
  • Putin falsely portrayed the conflict as a battle against nationalists and Nazis in Ukraine's government.
  • He vows that Russia has the means to respond to any country that threatens it.
  • Volgograd was temporarily renamed Stalingrad for the day to mark the occasion and a new bust of Joseph Stalin was unveiled.
  • Stalin was accused of orchestrating the Holodomor famine in Ukraine, killing an estimated 5 million people.
  • Putin laid flowers at the grave of the Soviet marshal who defended the city and visited the main memorial complex.

Vladimir Putin has compared Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the fight against Nazi Germany in a speech marking the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of the Battle of Stalingrad.

The speech, Putin claimed that the history was repeating itself, citing Germany's decision to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine and that Russia is again being threatened by German Leopard tanks. He also hinted that Russia could move beyond conventional weapons and warned that a modern war with Russia will be very different for the attackers. Putin falsely presented the conflict in Ukraine as a battle against nationalists and Nazis and claimed that the ideology of Nazism is creating direct threats to the security of Russia. He laid flowers at the grave of the Soviet marshal and visited the main memorial complex in Volgograd, where he led a moment of silence for those who died in the Battle of Stalingrad.

He claims that the presence of German Leopard tanks in Ukraine is repeating history.

Russia is once again being threatened by Germany. Putin also warned that a modern war with Russia would be different and that Moscow has the means to respond beyond conventional weapons. He repeated the false narrative that the conflict in Ukraine is a battle against nationalists and Nazis and that the ideology of Nazism is again creating direct threats to Russia's security. However, he vowed that Moscow has an answer for any country that threatens it.