[54026] Russia marked 81 years since the victory in World War II with a reduced parade in Moscow

The Victory Parade in Moscow: signs of tension and a reduced format

Moscow marked the 81st anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany on May 9, 2026. In a report by the RIA Novosti agency, it was noted that the parade in Red Square concluded with an aerial display by the "Russian Knights" and "Swifts" (Strizhi) aerobatic teams in the "Kuban Diamond" formation, and that Su-25 aircraft painted the sky in the colors of the Russian flag.

According to reports from Baza, the parade was held without a display of military vehicles, a move the Kremlin justified by security considerations. The parade included, for the first time, units of unmanned systems forces, alongside forces from North Korea. RBK agency emphasized that this was a foot-only parade, without the participation of traditional military school cadets.

A prominent event that caused a stir is an ironic decree issued by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he "authorized" Russia to hold the parade. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov strongly rejected the remarks, stating that "no one needs anyone's permission to be proud of our Victory Day," as quoted in Politika Strany. Conversely, critical sources such as the opposition agency 'Agentstvo' noted that the reduced format, which consists of about a third of the number of units from 2024, indicates high security sensitivity and fear of long-range Ukrainian attacks.

In his speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the importance of solidarity and the link between the historical victory and the current situation on the front, noting that Russia is facing an "aggressive force supported by the NATO alliance." Similar, more local events were also held in cities like Volgograd (which was renamed Stalingrad for the holiday period) and Novosibirsk, where they focused on local traditions and marches of families and soldiers.