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Russia to hold Victory Day parade without military equipment for 1st time in nearly two decades
The pared-down event will still feature marching servicemen and an aerial display as Moscow uses the parade to highlight its war effort in Ukraine.
- The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the upcoming Victory Day parade on May 9 will proceed without any tanks, armored vehicles, or missile systems for the first time in nearly two decades.
- The Ministry cited the "current operational situation" as the reason for the decision, which marks a significant departure from the traditional displays of military hardware typically used to showcase Russia's global power and strength.
- Security analysts suggest the move is primarily driven by fears of long-range Ukrainian drone strikes, noting that military columns are particularly vulnerable while parked or during rehearsals on open training grounds.
- Instead of the usual mechanized procession, the event will focus on foot columns from higher military educational institutions and will include a televised broadcast featuring footage of active-duty units currently deployed in Ukraine.
- While the ground equipment has been scrapped, the aerial segment remains scheduled, with Su-25 fighter jets expected to close the ceremony by painting the Moscow sky in the colors of the Russian flag.
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90 Articles
Every year on May 9th, Russia celebrates its victory over Nazi Germany with a large military parade in Moscow. Tanks and missiles will not be on display this year – apparently out of fear of Ukrainian drone attacks.
For 1st time in nearly 20 years, Russia to hold Victory Day parade without tanks
Russia said this year's Victory Day parade in Moscow will proceed without tanks, missiles or other military equipment. The move marks the first such Red Square parade since 2008 and comes amid security concerns linked to the war in Ukraine.
Russia commemorates the end of World War II on May 9 with a military parade on Red Square in Moscow. This year, however, it will take place without military equipment, the Ministry of Defense announced. According to the AP news agency, it will be the first military parade since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 in which no military equipment will be displayed on Red Square.
May 9, the Soviet Victory Day commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, is the Kremlin's most sacred date on the calendar and a day on which it traditionally displays its strength to the world. However, the upcoming anniversary march—the fifth since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine—will not feature tanks, armored personnel carriers, or nuclear missiles. This will be the first time in nearly two decades that this has happened. Read mo…
Engulfed in a conflict that entered its fourth year in February 2026, Russia was forced to review the scale of its 9-May parade, due to the "current operational situation", the...
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