Cuba organized its big annual observance July 26 event in Santiago de Cuba.
This highlights 73 years in the wake of the 1953 Moncada Barracks attack.
Raúl Castro was away.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel commented on the U.S. government in his speech.
He claimed Washington attempted to wipe out Cuba and take its land.
Citizens in Havana got ready for the ceremonies.
They did this still with acute water shortages, caused by ongoing power shortages.