Russia to hold Victory Day parade without military equipment

Russia Breaks Tradition by Excluding Military Equipment from Victory Day Parade

For the first time in nearly two decades, Russia’s annual Victory Day parade commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany will proceed without tanks, missiles, and other military equipment, the Russian Defense Ministry announced Wednesday.

The May 9 celebration, Russia’s most significant secular holiday, has traditionally featured an impressive display of military hardware rolling through Moscow’s Red Square since 2008. This year’s 81st anniversary observance, however, will break with this established protocol due to what officials describe as the “current operational situation.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed to Ukraine’s “terrorist activity” as the primary reason for the change, referring to recent drone attacks that have penetrated deep into Russian territory. Ukrainian forces have targeted locations ranging from the Baltic port of Ust-Luga north of Moscow to the Samara region near Kazakhstan and the Perm region in the Ural mountains.

“All measures are being taken to minimize the danger,” Peskov told reporters.

Instead of showcasing military equipment, this year’s Red Square ceremony will feature only “servicemen from higher military educational institutions of all kinds and certain service branches of the Russian Armed Forces,” along with the traditional military aircraft flyover, according to the ministry statement. Cadets who typically participate have also been excluded from this year’s events.

In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly told U.S. President Donald Trump during a Wednesday phone call that he was prepared to declare a ceasefire with Ukraine for the Victory Day holiday. Presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov claimed Trump supported the idea, acknowledging the day as marking “our common victory over fascism” in World War II.

The Victory Day celebration holds profound significance in Russian culture and politics. The Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people during what Russians call the Great Patriotic War (1941-45), creating a deep collective trauma that remains a rare point of consensus in the nation’s often divisive history.

“Traditionally, the parade of tanks, missile systems and other military hardware across Red Square has been central to these celebrations, providing powerful optics and reinforcing Russia’s image as the heir to Soviet victory in World War II,” said Natia Seskuria, associate fellow with the Royal United Services Institute.

“Removing this important element weakens the propaganda value of the event, particularly for domestic audiences, as it reduces one of the most visible symbols of Russian power and military prestige,” she added.

While security concerns likely motivated the change, Seskuria noted there could also be practical military considerations, “including the need to preserve equipment, avoid highlighting battlefield losses, and reduce the exposure of valuable military assets.”

The decision represents a significant scaling back from last year’s 80th anniversary celebration, which featured over 11,500 troops and more than 180 military vehicles. That event, the largest since Russia invaded Ukraine, attracted numerous global leaders to Moscow, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who attended last year, will return for this year’s ceremony along with other foreign dignitaries, according to Putin aide Yuri Ushakov.

Victory Day’s modern iteration has evolved considerably since Soviet times. The first Red Square parade marking Nazi Germany’s defeat occurred on June 24, 1945, with subsequent Soviet-era ceremonies held on May 9, culminating with the final Soviet parade in 1990. Following the USSR’s collapse, the tradition resumed in 1995, though the format has varied. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, authorities moved the celebration to June 24.

Under Putin’s 25-year rule, Victory Day has become a cornerstone of Russian national identity and has been increasingly used to justify the ongoing war in Ukraine. The absence of military hardware this year marks a notable departure from Putin’s carefully cultivated image of Russian military strength and resolve.