Russia will hold its Victory Day parade without heavy military equipment for the first time in almost two decades, as Ukraine’s intensifying long-range strikes threaten to overshadow Vladimir Putin’s showcase event.
The parade in Moscow on May 9, celebrating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the second world war, will go ahead without the tanks, armoured vehicles, long-range weapons and nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that typically trundle past Russia’s president on Red Square “due to the current operational situation”, according to the defence ministry.
Instead, the parade’s televised broadcast will include footage of Russian units fighting in Ukraine, as well as members of its nuclear forces, air force and navy on active duty. The parade will also feature a military flyover, concluding with Su-25 fighter jets painting the Moscow sky in the colours of Russia’s flag.