Cuba conducted its key annual celebration July 26 event in Santiago de Cuba.
This highlights 73 years in the wake of the 1953 Moncada Barracks attack.
Raúl Castro was not present.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel commented on the U.S. government during the ceremony.
He claimed Washington attempted to destroy Cuba and seize it.
Locals in Havana readied for the ceremonies.
They did this still with serious water issues, caused by chronic power shortages.