Part 5/12:
Historically, the Soviet Union—a major Allied power—participated in WWII and suffered immense losses, with approximately 8.7 million military casualties. However, under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, Russia has notably distanced itself from the anniversary commemorations. Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent invasion of Ukraine, Putin has not attended D-Day ceremonies, signaling a departure from the era of alliance and cooperation.