This May 9 is a big day for Russia, and for President Vladimir Putin: Russia will be celebrating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, which surrendered to the Red Army 70 years ago this Saturday, and Putin will be doing all he can to turn this into a nostalgic Stalinist spectacle to legitimize his own authoritarian reign. Marion Smith, direct of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, has a nice piece about the charade on the homepage.

Anyway, things aren’t off to such a hot start. A prototype of Russia’s next-generation super tank, the T-14, to be unveiled at the parade, broke down for 15 minutes during rehearsal today: