Russia holds scaled-back victory day parade amid ukraine drone fears

Russia staged a significantly reduced Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, marking the first time in nearly two decades that no armored vehicles or missile systems took part due to concerns over potential long-range drone strikes from Ukraine.

Kremlin blames 'terrorist activity' for curtailed celebrations

According to the Defense Ministry, no tanks, missile systems or other military hardware rolled across Red Square during the annual procession, which commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Cadets from military schools and youth military institutions were also omitted from the event, the ministry announced.

The decision to scale back the parade came as Ukraine continues to launch frequent drone attacks on Russian territory, with targets including oil infrastructure and logistics hubs. These strikes, which have sometimes triggered massive fires and forced civilian evacuations, have been carried out from distances of over 1,500 kilometers away, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed.

Despite the reduced military display, the Kremlin still leveraged the Victory Day celebrations to bolster support for Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Since the full-scale assault began in 2022, the annual parade has been progressively toned down, with last year's 80th anniversary event being an exception featuring a full procession of tanks, rocket launchers, and drones across Red Square, accompanied by the attendance of at least 27 foreign heads of state.