Cuba organized its key annual observance July 26 event in Santiago de Cuba.
This underscores 73 years following the 1953 Moncada Barracks attack.
Raúl Castro was away.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel commented on the U.S. government at the event.
He claimed Washington tried to destroy Cuba and occupy it.
Locals in Havana readied for the ceremonies.
They did this still with serious water shortages, caused by ongoing power shortages.