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This year, the famous Victory Day parade in Moscow will not feature military vehicles or important guests...
This is an important day for Russia. The date of May 9 is getting closer and closer, and in Russia, especially in the capital Moscow, it represents every year one of the most important anniversaries for its people and history: Victory Day. After Zelensky's recent threats and Lavrov's warning, this year's parade looks different.
Every year, on May 9, Russia commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II, following the signing of the capitulation in Berlin in the late evening of May 8, 1945, which according to local Moscow time was already May 9.
The celebration is known worldwide mainly for the military parade on Red Square, near the Kremlin. It features military units, but above all tanks and combat vehicles that have been a symbol of defending the Russian cause for years. However, this year the ceremony is expected to have a significantly different character.
History of Victory Day
After the surrender of Nazi Germany in Berlin during World War II, which was signed on the evening of May 8, 1945, when May 9 had already entered Moscow, the Soviet Union solemnly declared victory in what was called the "Great Patriotic War".
However, Victory Day was only officially established in 1965, and until the 1990s it was not celebrated every year with a parade, but only every five years, on important anniversaries.
It began to take on the importance it has today, especially after Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000. Especially since 2005 and its 60th anniversary, with an open invitation to Western leaders, Putin transformed the holiday into an event with strong national and political symbolism.
However, the turning point was 2015, when 16,000 Russian soldiers, 1,300 foreign military personnel from 10 countries, about 200 armored vehicles, and 143 combat aircraft and helicopters paraded through Moscow.
May 9 continues to be celebrated with parades and events not only throughout Russia, but also in several countries of the former Soviet bloc and Eastern Europe.
Parade of the “Immortal Regiment”
The "Immortal Regiment" parade is an important part of the celebrations. It is usually attended by families of Russian soldiers who lost their lives during the war, who are considered heroes of Russia because they died fighting against Nazism.
This parade usually took the form of a march, with participants carrying photographs of their deceased relatives. In the past four years, authorities in Moscow have also created a website where family members can upload photos and stories of their heroes.
Parade without guests, internet and tanks
The parade commemorating the capitulation of Nazi Germany in 1945, which has traditionally been an occasion of pride and prestige for the Kremlin, will be significantly more limited this year.
The Kremlin has long warned of possible total internet outages, which have been occurring sporadically for months, especially during the period May 5–9.
The reason is related to security concerns and fears of possible Ukrainian attacks during this day.
Furthermore, it has been announced that for the first time in 20 years, military vehicles will not take part in the parade. This is a parade that traditionally includes tanks and armored vehicles, which have been symbols of Russian military history, but which are absent this year for "security reasons."
Compared to previous years, when prime ministers and important political figures such as Chinese President Xi Jinping attended, this year there will be no important guests. The only leader expected to attend is Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
However, Fico has announced that he will only participate in part of the ceremony, the one that precedes the parade and includes laying flowers near the Kremlin, at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
The failed ceasefire with Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed a ceasefire on the occasion of the May 9 parade, which is often described as "sacred".
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky objected, proposing a ceasefire that would not be limited to May 8 and 9, but would last from May 6 to 9.
Despite this, the Russian attacks showed no signs of abating and the ceasefire once again ended in stalemate.
Several Ukrainian military officials stated that as of May 6, four Ukrainian soldiers had been wounded as a result of Russian actions in the Pokrovsk region during the ceasefire period. Infrastructure in Zaporizhia and Kryvyi Rih, as well as residential buildings in Kharkiv, were also hit overnight.
On the other hand, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that air defense systems shot down 53 Ukrainian drones during the night between May 5 and 6 over the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions, as well as over the Moscow region, Crimea and the Black Sea.
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