Cuba organized its big 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 away.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel talked about the U.S. government at the event.
He claimed Washington tried to destroy Cuba and seize it.
Residents in Havana readied for the ceremonies.
They did this nevertheless with serious water shortages, caused by chronic power shortages.