Parade cancellation in Crimea demonstrates preparations for Ukrainian counteroffensive - Mission of the Ukrainian President in Crimea

This is reported by Radio Liberty with reference to the statement of the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Ukrainian President in Crimea Denys Chystikov.

"They tried to maintain certain magnets that created some reassurance for the local population, but the very cancellation of the events on May 1 and 9 demonstrates that military action or the liberation of Crimea is coming," Chystikov said.

The representative of the President of Ukraine in the Crimea emphasized that the Russians may demonstratively detain so-called terrorists who allegedly prepared "sabotage" during the "Victory Day" events to justify the security measures.

On April 12, the head of the Russian administration on the peninsula, Sergey Aksyonov, said that this year there would be no festive demonstrations, marches of the Immortal Regiment, or military parades on the temporarily occupied peninsula on May 9.

• The Russian authorities decided not to organize the traditional May 9 parade in Kursk, fearing for the safety of participants and spectators. 

• Last week, the parade was also canceled in the Belgorod region. The governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, explained this by not wanting to "provoke Ukraine."