Moscow has staged one of its largest Victory Day parades in years, marking the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II — even as the war in Ukraine casts a long shadow over the celebrations.
From Red Square, Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over a massive military display, with tanks, missiles, and more than 11,000 troops on parade. This year’s event, the largest since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, drew over two dozen foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Analysts say Putin used the parade not only to commemorate the Soviet Union’s enormous sacrifice in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War — but also to project Russia’s global standing, despite efforts by the West to isolate Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
In his address, Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, calling their actions courageous and invoking the patriotic spirit that, he claims, has always led Russia to victory. Over his 25-year rule, Putin has transformed Victory Day into a powerful symbol of national pride and a tool to justify both domestic crackdowns and Russia’s assertive foreign policy.
One striking moment today: Putin was seen shaking hands with Russian generals and warmly greeting senior North Korean officers attending the parade. Just last month, Putin acknowledged North Korea’s military support in Ukraine — a significant development that highlights Russia’s deepening military partnerships.
But not all the attention was celebratory. Security was extremely tight in Moscow after a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks this week disrupted airports and canceled more than 100 flights. Russian authorities implemented electronic countermeasures, and cellphone outages were reported around the capital.
Putin had announced a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire to cover the Victory Day period, warning that Russian forces would retaliate if attacked. Meanwhile, Moscow has so far resisted a U.S.-proposed broader 30-day ceasefire, tying it to demands for halting Western arms deliveries to Ukraine — conditions Kyiv and its allies reject.
Despite the temporary Russian ceasefire, Ukrainian officials reported continued Russian strikes today, with at least two civilians killed in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian drone hit a civilian car, critically injuring a man and wounding his wife.
While Moscow held its grand parade, European officials gathered in Lviv, western Ukraine, to endorse a plan to establish a special tribunal aimed at prosecuting Russian officials for alleged war crimes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it Europe’s “moral duty” to hold Russia accountable, adding that justice must be served for the countless victims of the ongoing war.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed confidence that the tribunal will help combat impunity, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas declared that no one should escape punishment for crimes committed in this conflict. Russia, for its part, has strongly denied all allegations of war crimes.
As tensions remain high on the battlefield and at the diplomatic table, the world is watching closely. We will continue to track this story and bring you the latest updates.
Reporting by Megan Owen.
