Russia’s Victory Day Shows War’s Toll

The update

For the first time in nearly two decades, Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9 will feature no tanks, missiles, or military hardware. The parade will be limited to personnel from higher-level military academies marching on foot, while the aerial portion—including an aerobatic show and fighter jets painting the Russian flag in the sky—will remain unchanged.

Why it matters

Victory Day is Russia’s most important national holiday, commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The scaled-back celebrations reflect both heightened security concerns and the realities of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has cited “the current operational situation” and threats of “Ukrainian terrorist activity” as reasons for the reduced parade.

What to watch

Watch for potential Ukrainian drone or missile strikes during the celebrations, as Russia has threatened “massive retaliatory strikes” on Kyiv if attacked. The absence of military hardware in the parade indicates Russia’s military priorities have shifted to the battlefield.

Sources

• Al Jazeera — Details about the scaled-back parade and Russian security concerns
• BBC — Context about the significance of Victory Day and Russian military priorities
• New York Times — Information about Russian threats toward Ukraine regarding the parade