Russia plans this year to mark its World War II victory with parades that, for the first time in nearly two decades, will not include the usual public display of weaponry, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday, citing an increased threat of Ukrainian attacks.
Moscow’s May 9 parade in Red Square is one of the country’s largest annual events. Under President Vladimir Putin, the day has long been used to showcase military hardware—from tanks to intercontinental ballistic missiles—and, since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, to rally support for the war. In recent months, however, Kyiv has increased strikes deep inside Russia, hitting ports and oil refineries.
Last year’s parade, which marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, was unusually large and hosted foreign leaders including China’s Xi Jinping and Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The Defense Ministry said the weaponry display was canceled because of the “operational situation.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Kyiv, “which is losing ground on the battlefield every day, has now launched full-scale terrorist activity,” and that measures were being taken “to minimize the danger.” He also noted that this year is not a major anniversary, unlike 2024.
John Foreman, a former British defense attaché to Moscow, told Reuters that the 2025 parade had included about 11,000 troops and roughly 150 vehicles, including tanks, which had returned after being absent in prior years. Analysts and Kremlin critics suggest the cancellation aims to avoid exposing Russian military assets to potential Ukrainian drone attacks and to preserve equipment for combat.
“This decision signals a degree of vulnerability rather than strength,” Natia Seskuria, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told the Associated Press, noting that last year Russia displayed new tanks and drones before invited world leaders. Public weaponry displays have been a feature of Victory Day parades in Russia since 2008.
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru