Russia is marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day as a few dozen leaders fly in to watch and meet with Putin. Victory day has become an opportunity for Russia to try to frame the Ukraine war in the same light as the second world war.

Hardly any other country marks the end of World War II with the same fanfare and fervor as Russia, for which the victory over Nazi Germany 80 years ago remains a source of immense pride and a defining

Fighting has raged in Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Russian forces have slowly expanded the amount of territory they control over the past year, mostly in the east of Ukraine.