02:14Ukrainians were seen laying down flowers and praying in commemoration of Victory Day at Kiev's Park of Eternal Glory on Thursday, May 9, in defiance of President Volodymyr Zelensky's orders to move the memorial day.
Ukraine has traditionally marked Victory Day, along with Russia and other former Soviet nations, on May 9, with Western countries marking the end of WWII a day earlier - due to the time difference with Eastern Europe in the signing of the German surrender.
Last May, Zelensky submitted a bill to the Ukrainian parliament to move the day in a break with Moscow amid the ongoing conflict between the countries.
Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine itself of Nazism, with the aims of its ongoing military offensive including the 'demilitarisation and denazification' of the territory.
Ukrainians defy Zelensky to commemorate Victory Day on May 9 at Kiev's Park of Eternal Glory
Ukrainians were seen laying down flowers and praying in commemoration of Victory Day at Kiev's Park of Eternal Glory on Thursday, May 9, in defiance of President Volodymyr Zelensky's orders to move the memorial day.
Ukraine has traditionally marked Victory Day, along with Russia and other former Soviet nations, on May 9, with Western countries marking the end of WWII a day earlier - due to the time difference with Eastern Europe in the signing of the German surrender.
Last May, Zelensky submitted a bill to the Ukrainian parliament to move the day in a break with Moscow amid the ongoing conflict between the countries.
Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine itself of Nazism, with the aims of its ongoing military offensive including the 'demilitarisation and denazification' of the territory.
Ukrainians were seen laying down flowers and praying in commemoration of Victory Day at Kiev's Park of Eternal Glory on Thursday, May 9, in defiance of President Volodymyr Zelensky's orders to move the memorial day.
Ukraine has traditionally marked Victory Day, along with Russia and other former Soviet nations, on May 9, with Western countries marking the end of WWII a day earlier - due to the time difference with Eastern Europe in the signing of the German surrender.
Last May, Zelensky submitted a bill to the Ukrainian parliament to move the day in a break with Moscow amid the ongoing conflict between the countries.
Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine itself of Nazism, with the aims of its ongoing military offensive including the 'demilitarisation and denazification' of the territory.