Russia’s President Wladimir Putin met on Saturday at the May 9th military parade reliably shown that Moscow’s army is winning the war of aggression against Ukraine that has been ongoing since February 2022. She will be inspired by this during her mission in Ukraine today “Generation of winners” in the Second World War, Putin said sharply on Red Square in Moscow. “They are opposing an aggressive power that is armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc.”
“I am firmly convinced that our cause is just, we stand together, victory has always been and will always be on our side,” said Putin about the conflict that has now been going on for more than four years. Despite Western support, “our heroes march forward,” the president claimed.
Ukraine is receiving significant support from NATO states, including Germany in particular, in its defense against the large-scale Russian invasion. The fighting is considered to be deadlocked in the war – with no real movement for either of the two warring parties. The sides have currently agreed on a ceasefire until May 11th under the mediation of US President Donald Trump. According to the Kremlin, there were initially no violations.
Combat operations in Ukraine have stalled
“The key to success is our moral, ethical strength, our courage and bravery, our cohesion, our ability to go through anything and pass any test,” Putin said. “We have a common goal, everyone makes their personal contribution to victory – fighting both on the battlefield and in the hinterland.”
So far, however, there is no sign that Putin will achieve his war goals in Ukraine. The scaled-down military parade is also seen as a reflection of the situation in his war, in which the Russian troops are under increasing pressure from Ukrainian resistance. For fear of Ukrainian drone attacks, Putin took part in the parade without the tanks and missiles usually on display. However, video clips from the combat operations of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine were shown during the march.
Silence after remembering victory in the Great Patriotic War
There was a minute’s silence on Red Square after Putin’s speech extensively recalled the Red Army’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. After the parade, which ended with a squadron of fighter pilots and the colors of the Russian flag in the Moscow sky, he personally congratulated individual veterans with handshakes on the 81st anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Kremlin chief Putin is taking the parade without tanks, missiles and military technology this time out of fear of Ukrainian drone attacks. Instead, weapons systems such as the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, the new Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine, as well as fighter jets and drones were presented on huge screens. In addition to Russian soldiers, North Korean troops who had fought against Ukrainian units in the Russian Kursk region also marched.
Scaled-down march
The scaled-down march with fewer guests is also seen as a symbol of the situation in Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The president is protected by an extreme security presence during his public appearance in front of international guests. The usual presentation of military technology is being avoided due to fears of Ukrainian drone attacks. There will only be a few foreign state guests present; foreign journalists have been disinvited.
The only guest from the European Union is Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in Moscow, but he is not going to the parade. In the Russian capital and other cities, mobile internet is blocked for the population. On Victory Day, Putin declared a two-day ceasefire in his war of aggression against Ukraine. In recent days, Ukraine has complained about Russian ground attacks and bombardment from the air and has attacked the Russian hinterland with large swarms of drones.
Kremlin criticizes Zelenskiy’s “stupid joke” about the military parade
In Moscow, a decree by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in which he gave his “approval” to the Russian military parade on Red Square in Moscow, was met with criticism. “We don’t need permission from anyone,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television on Saturday before the parade began. “Woe to anyone who tries to make fun of Victory Day and make such stupid jokes,” he added.
On Friday, Zelensky published a decree “On holding a parade in Moscow” with the coordinates of Red Square, which should be exempt from Ukrainian attacks. He also assured that no weapons would be aimed at Red Square. “I hereby order: to allow the holding of a parade in the city of Moscow on May 9, 2026.” Red Square will be excluded from the planned use of Ukrainian weapons. The decree “On holding a parade in Moscow” specifically contains local coordinates that should be spared from Ukrainian attacks.
Kremlin: Russia is proud of Victory Day
Peskov described it as a “great misfortune” for Zelensky that he behaved like this. Victory Day is celebrated in many parts of the former Soviet Union as a “day of pride with tears in our eyes.” The country lost more than 27 million people when Europe was liberated from the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler. “We don’t need anyone’s permission to be proud of our Victory Day,” Peskov said.
Fighter squadron should end parade in Moscow sky
Surprisingly, US President Donald Trump had previously announced a ceasefire brokered between Kiev and Moscow and the planned exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war for 1,000. The ceasefire therefore applies until May 11th. There were initially no official reports of possible violations of the agreement in the morning.
Russia had previously announced a halt to all troop movements from May 8th to 10th itself because of Victory Day over Nazi Germany. However, fighting and attacks continued. The surrender of the German Wehrmacht on May 8, 1945 in Berlin took place in the early hours of May 9 in Moscow. That is why Russia always celebrates Victory Day on this date.