\n<\/p>\n
The Russian soldiers who occupy Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine seemed excited about the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, the Russian holiday that marks the surrender of Nazi Germany in World War II.<\/p>\n
The soldiers posted videos on social media, verified by The New York Times, of themselves hanging colorful posters and banners with messages in Russian like \u201cHappy Victory Day.\u201d One poster said \u201cImmortal Regiment\u201d and showed photos of veterans from the Soviet Union who fought in the war. Others proclaimed \u201cProud of Victory 1941-1945\u201d and \u201c80 years of the Great Victory.\u201d One video showed the red flag of the Soviet Union with its hammer and sickle.<\/p>\n
But almost no one lives in Bakhmut anymore. It\u2019s a gray bombed-out ghost town, once home to about 70,000 people. In Bakhmut, and other cities in the Russian-occupied territories of eastern Ukraine, the holiday on Friday <\/span>will be a muted affair, with small concerts and parades, sometimes against a background of rubble.<\/p>\n A senior Russian intelligence officer with the call sign Amur, from the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the Southern Group, told the Tass news agency<\/a> in mid-April that his division had ordered Victory Day posters for Bakhmut with the help of the region\u2019s pro-Russian governor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThis city had already been liberated,\u201d he told Tass. \u201cIt is a Russian city.\u201d<\/p>\n In Russia, Victory Day is rife with symbolism, especially this year when President Vladimir V. Putin is trying to show that his Russia is the heir-apparent of the Soviet Union in its heyday, and will soon defeat Ukraine.<\/p>\n Plans call for a giant military show in Moscow for more than two dozen world leaders.<\/p>\n By comparison, if social media is any guide, Victory Day celebrations in the occupied territories will be far more modest, though widespread. They will include the hanging of posters and paintings, and the occasional concert or quickie parade. Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-appointed leader in the Russia-held part of the Donetsk region \u2014 which includes Bakhmut \u2014 has said there would be more than 57,000 \u201cmemorial, celebratory and other events\u201d over several months to celebrate the holiday.<\/p>\n But with these events, Mr. Putin seems to be trying to project to the world that these territories are already his.<\/p>\n The peace plan put forward by the United States in April would freeze the conflict near its current front lines. Under it, Bakhmut, such as it is, and many other cities might never again be part of Ukraine. Russia now occupies almost 20 percent of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In the run-up to Victory Day, Mr. Putin proposed a three-day cease-fire. Through the night on Wednesday, fighting and aerial bombardments continued along the front line but long-range missile and drone attacks deeper in Ukraine came to a halt, according to the Ukrainian military.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n To celebrate Victory Day in the occupied town of Melitopol, southwest of Bakhmut, a new bell tower<\/a> was consecrated in April at the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. A two-story tall poster<\/a> was also hung on the side of a house, featuring the 80th anniversary\u2019s logo and a soldier with a gun. <\/p>\n Oleksandr, who fled Melitopol but wanted to use only his first name because most of his family still lived there, said the images angered him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen how my city is being distorted,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just sad that the only thing they are proud of is winning a war 80 years ago. That\u2019s all they have to show. And now they\u2019re imposing this warped reality on those who still remain.\u201d<\/p>\n The mayor of Sevastopol, in Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014, canceled a planned parade for Victory Day because of security reasons. Still, the city plans to hold a patriotic event and concert. The city also held a quick \u201cpersonal parade\u201d this week for two aged veterans. They were awarded jubilee medals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The New York Times verified the location of the videos<\/a> in Bakhmut from nearby buildings\u2019 facades, windows and road layouts that matched satellite imagery and file images. The Times could not verify the date of the videos, but they were posted on Russian social-media channels in April.<\/p>\n