Cuba staged its key annual celebration July 26 event in Santiago de Cuba.
This signifies 73 years in the wake of the 1953 Moncada Barracks attack.
Raúl Castro was missing.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel talked about the U.S. government at the event.
He claimed Washington sought to wipe out Cuba and occupy it.
Citizens in Havana readied for the ceremonies.
They did this nevertheless with serious water issues, caused by chronic power shortages.