Russia Scales Back Moscow Victory Day Parade, Citing Threat from Ukraine

April 29, 2026 — Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May will be scaled back this year because of a “terrorist threat” from Ukraine, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday.

Dmitry Peskov, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, said: “All measures are being taken to minimise the danger.” The Russian military explained that the annual commemorations of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two would not feature military vehicles or cadets due to the “current operational situation.”

Armored Columns Absent for the First Time

This marks the first time since the invasion of Ukraine that armored columns will not be rolling across Red Square. Putin revived the Soviet practice of parading heavy military hardware in 2008 to demonstrate Russia’s “growing defence capability.”

Last year, more than 20 world leaders attended lavish commemorations in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in 1945, which featured an array of modern armory including tanks and drones.

Ukraine’s Deep Strikes Intensify

Ukraine has recently intensified its strikes deep inside Russia, more than four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion. Kyiv says it is hitting legitimate military targets, while accusing Moscow of attacking civilians in Ukraine.

Peskov told reporters: “The Kyiv regime, which is losing ground on the battlefield every day, has now launched into full-scale terrorist activity.”

The defence ministry’s statement said this year’s parade would include representatives of all branches of Russia’s armed forces and a colourful fly-past, but made clear that “cadets from Suvorov military schools, Nakhimov naval schools, and cadet corps, as well as a column of military equipment will not participate in the military parade this year.”

First reports that this year’s event would be scaled down emerged on social media earlier this month, with several pro-Kremlin military bloggers writing about a growing threat of Ukrainian long-range aerial attacks.

Pro-war commentators noted there had been none of the usual rehearsals involving massive road closures in central Moscow.

Meanwhile, a telecoms source told BBC Russian that “more powerful” restrictions on mobile communications would be imposed in Moscow on 5, 7, and 9 May. Mobile internet services were severely disrupted in the centre of Moscow in March, linked to security reasons.

Ukraine’s Response

Ukraine has not publicly commented on Peskov’s accusations. However, Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, ruled out any attack on the Victory Day parade in Moscow last week.

He pointed out that there would be many ordinary civilians in Moscow watching the event.

Source: BBC News