Russian holiday on May 9 could signal milestone in Ukraine

• The Kremlin has staged massive shows of strength to mark the day.
• The weeks leading up to May 9 could be pivotal in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of an impending Russian offensive.

An upcoming national holiday in Russia could be an important milestone in that country’s invasion of Ukraine, a war that has been more difficult than the Kremlin anticipated.

May 9 is Victory Day, marking the Russian defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 at the end of World War II. Officials in both Ukraine and the West see it as a date by which Russian President Vladimir Putin could target progress in the war.