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Amid Ukraine’s daring assaults, Russia scales back Victory Day celebrations
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Amid Ukraine’s daring assaults, Russia scales back Victory Day celebrations Al Jazeera Steve Rosenberg: This year's Victory Day parade in Moscow felt very different BBC Russia holds scaled-down Victory Day parade as temporary ceasefire in Ukraine war takes effect CNN Putin Presides Over Downsized Military Parade as Ukraine War Drags On WSJ Moscow holds scaled-back Victory Day Parade under heavy security PBS
North Korea's servicemen wait for the start of the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Saturday, May 9, 2026, during celebrations of the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II. Pavel Bednyakov/Pool AP hide caption toggle caption Pavel Bednyakov/Pool AP MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday voiced confidence of victory in Ukraine as he oversaw a military parade on Red Square commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Security was tight in Moscow as Putin and several foreign leaders attended the parade, even as a U.S.-brokered three-day ceasefire eased concerns about possible Ukrainian attempts to disrupt the festivities. Putin, in power for more than a quarter-century, has used Victory Day, Russia's most important secular holiday, to showcase the country's military might and rally support for his military action in Ukraine, now in its fifth year. Speaking at the parade, Putin hailed Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, declaring that they "face an aggressive force that is armed and supported by the entire bloc of NATO." "Victory has always been and will be ours," Putin said as columns of troops lined up on Red Square. "The key to success is our moral strength, courage and valor, our unity and ability to endure anything and overcome any challenge." But this year, for the first time in nearly two decades, the parade took place without tanks, missiles and other heavy weapons, aside from a traditional flyover of combat jets. Officials explained the sudden change of format by the "current operational situation" and said that additional security measures have been taken in response to the threat of Ukrainian attacks. For the first time, Saturday's parade featured troops from North Korea, a tribute to Pyongyang that sent its soldiers to fight alongside Moscow forces to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Earlier ceasefires failed to hold Russia declared a unilateral ceasefire for Friday and Saturday, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a truce that was supposed to begin on May 6, but neither of them held as the parties traded blame for continuing attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that Russia and Ukraine have bowed to his request for a ceasefire running Saturday through Monday and an exchange of prisoners, declaring that the break in fighting could be the "beginning of the end" of the war. Zelenskyy, who said earlier this week that the Russian authorities "fear drones may buzz over Red Square" on May 9, followed up on Trump's statement by issuing a decree mockingly permitting Russia to hold its Victory Day celebrations on Saturday, declaring Red Square temporarily off-limits for Ukrainian strikes. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov shrugged off Zelenskyy's decree as a "silly joke." "We don't need anyone's permission to be proud of our Victory Day," Peskov told reporters. Victory Day remains a rare point of consensus in Russia Russia's bigger and better-equipped military has been making slow but steady gains along the more than 1,000-kilometer (over 600-mile) front line. Ukraine has hit back with increasingly efficient long-range attacks, striking Russian energy facilities, manufacturing plants and military depots. It has developed drones capable of reaching targets over 1,000 kilometers (more than 600 miles) deep into Russia, far beyond its capabilities before 2022. Russian authorities warned that if Ukraine attempts to disrupt Saturday's festivities, Russia will carry out a "massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv." The Russian Defense Ministry warned the civilian population there and employees of foreign diplomatic missions of "the need to leave the city promptly." The EU said its diplomats wouldn't leave the Ukrainian capital despite Russian threats. Russian servicemen stand in a formation before the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Saturday, May 9, 2026, during c
Just nowAlys DaviesEPA/ShutterstockVladimir Putin has used his annual Victory Day speech in Moscow's Red Square to justify his war in Ukraine and denounce Nato.Speaking in front of hundreds of military personnel and flanked by a few world leaders, the Russian president said he was fighting a "just" war and called Ukraine an "aggressive force" that is being "armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato".His remarks come amid muted celebrations across parts of Russia to mark the nation's biggest national holiday, which commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.Ahead of the celebrations, Russia and Ukraine agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire, which was announced by US President Donald Trump on Friday.For the first time in years, no armoured vehicles or ballistic missiles featured in Moscow's Victory Day parade.But under tightened security, military personnel marched in droves across Red Square.Addressing the crowd, Putin started his speech by commemorating the sacrifices of USSR soldiers during World War Two. "The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today," he said, referring to the war in Ukraine."They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato. And despite this, our heroes move forward."The Russian leader went on to celebrate the citizens of Russia, making reference to the contributions of workers to its war effort, including scientists, inventors, military correspondents, doctors and teachers."No matter how military tactics change, the future of the country is being provided for by the people," he said.Immediately after the speech, cannons fired successive rounds before music was played by a military brass band.Behind Putin was Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.Also in attendance at the event were Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith and Malaysia's King, Sultan Ibrahim. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was also pictured meeting Putin at the Kremlin ahead of the parade.Markedly fewer world leaders turned up compared to last year's 80th anniversary parade, which featured 27 leaders including China's President Xi Jinping and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.Russian TV viewers were also shown a broadcast of soldiers on the front lines after Putin's speech.MAXIM SHIPENKOV/EPA/ShutterstockHundreds of Russian soldiers took part in the parade in Red SquareEPA/ShutterstockReutersRussian fighter jets painted the colours of the Russian flag in the airEPANorth Korean soldiers also took part in the paradeFollowing the ceremony in Red Square, Putin laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier alongside other leaders, before attending a reception at the Kremlin.Ahead of the parade in Moscow, other celebrations had already taken place in cities in Russia's east. They included celebrations in far-eastern Vladivostok, where people participated in a march commemorating war veterans, known as the Immortal Regiment march.ReutersSoldiers gathered for a parade in the far-eastern city of VladivostokReutersLocals took part in an Immortal Regiment march. The marches commemorate war veterans and are a regular feature of Victory Day celebrations across RussiaReutersSome parades taking place across the country were expected to include military vehicles, though most were reported to be from World War Two rather than modern, according to Russian state media.Other parades and public celebrations were called off altogether. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched in 2022 and has been going on for more than four years.Despite the movement of troops and military equipment to the front lines, Russia had continued to feature military hardware such as tanks, missiles and other weapons in its annual Moscow parade up until now.But last week officials announced this year's parade would be scaled back, citing the "current operational situation"."Our tanks are busy right now," Russian MP Yevgeny Popov told
Just nowLaura GozziBBC reports from Moscow after Ukrainian drone hits high-riseA Ukrainian drone hit an upmarket residential high-rise in Moscow in the early hours of Monday, causing visible damage to the façade of the building but no casualties.It was the third night in a row the Russian capital came under attack from drones, days before Russia holds a scaled-back parade to mark the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. An unverified video circulating on social media showed firemen entering a heavily damaged flat covered in dust and rubble, with blown-out windows. Another showed drone debris strewn across the street below.Two other drones were intercepted, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. Vnukovo and Domodedovo international airports suspended operations overnight.A total of 117 were intercepted over several Russian regions between Sunday and Monday, the Russian defence ministry said. Sixty alone were aimed at the region of St Petersburg in what the regional governor Aleksandr Drodzhenko said had been a "massive" attack.The residential building that was hit is located in an upscale neighbourhood in south-west Moscow, less than 10km (six miles) from the Kremlin and Red Square, where Saturday's parade will be held.Ukrainian drones have attacked Moscow several times since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Drone alerts regularly shut down airports on the outskirts of the capital and disrupt aerial traffic, but much of the capital is protected by the Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile system and successful strikes so close to the centre are relatively rare. On Monday, Moscow unilaterally declared a ceasefire with Ukraine on 8 and 9 May to cover the celebrations. At the same time, the Russian defence ministry threatened a massive retaliatory strike on the centre of Kyiv if Ukraine tried to disrupt its Victory Day celebrations.Several local phone operators announced that mobile internet will be restricted in Moscow for much of the week ahead for "security reasons", Russian media reported on Monday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Kremlin was afraid that "drones will fly over Red Square. This is telling... We need to keep up the pressure."Her later dismissed an idea of a one-day ceasefire as "not serious" and said Kyiv had not received any official proposal.Since the start of the war, Ukraine has developed an arsenal of long-range drones which are often able to hit targets many hundreds of miles from its borders. Such drones now routinely hit energy infrastructure and refineries across Russia with the aim of slashing Russian oil production and revenue.On Sunday Zelensky said three Russian oil tankers, a cruise-missile carrier warship and a patrol boat had been struck in separate attacks on two Russian ports.The tankers were part of Russia's "shadow fleet" used to evade Western sanctions imposed over Moscow's full-scale invasion launched in 2022, Zelensky said.For its part, Russia continues to launch deadly aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities on a daily basis. On Monday Ukrainian authorities said four people were killed and 18 were injured in a missile strike near Kharkiv, close to the border with Russia.
com Russia to mark war anniversary with parade, but no equipment Reuters Putin scales back Red Square military parade amid Ukraine war struggles politico.eu Vladimir Putin pares back Victory Day parade over fear of Ukrainian strikes Financial Times
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