Elsewhere in the region, anti-government activists in Luhansk have decided to cancel their scheduled celebration to mark the 69th anniversary of Victory Day, citing potential threats from government forces. The activists also claimed the Ukrainian government was planning to deploy at least twenty snipers in the city. 

 

Luhansk has been a major target of Kiev’s anti-terrorists operations. The city’s self-declared "People’s Governor" Valeriy Bolotov, has established an armed force, and has publicly defied the Ukrainian government. The city of Odessa has also canceled its traditional Victory Day parades. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities have decided to keep the remembrances to a minimum this year to avoid clashes.