Russia celebrates victory in World War II as Putin accuses the West of fueling global conflicts

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia wrapped itself in patriotic pageantry for Victory Day, as President Vladimir Putin celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II by hailing his forces in Ukraine and blasting the West for fueling conflicts around the world. Putin has turned the holiday into a pillar of his nearly quarter-century in power and a justification of his military action in Ukraine. Even though few World War II veterans are still alive 79 years after Berlin fell to the Red Army, the victory over Nazi Germany remains the most important symbol of the country’s prowess. The Soviet Union lost about 27 million people in the war, an estimate that many historians consider conservative. Thursday’s festivities honor that sacrifice.