
On May 9, Russia will hold its traditional parade in Red Square to mark the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, but this year without tanks, artillery or missile systems.
The Ministry of Defense announced that due to the current operational situation, students of the Suvorov and Nakhimov military schools, the cadet corps, and the heavy equipment column will not participate.
This major change comes at a time when Russian armed forces are facing great difficulties in eastern Ukraine, trying to break through defensive fortifications.
Regular drone attacks from Ukraine have exposed internal weaknesses on Russian soil, as Moscow struggles to replenish troop numbers amid heavy losses.
Traditionally, the May 9 parade has included columns of troops, dozens of tanks, artillery systems, air defenses, and weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
But this year, the spectacle will be limited to the participation of a few military students, marines, veterans of the war in Ukraine, and a military aviation display.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia has lost over 1 million troops killed and wounded since 2022, as well as thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, and aircraft.
These figures cannot be independently verified, but OSINT research group Oryx has visually confirmed over 24,000 devices lost by Russia as of April 1.
The May 9 parade, which for decades has been a symbol of military might and national pride, this year reflects the harsh reality of the war in Ukraine and the immense pressure on the Russian military.