Russia is significantly altering the format of its annual Victory Day commemorations on May 9, with major changes to the traditional military parades in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The adjustments, attributed to security considerations, represent a notable departure from recent decades of celebrations.
In Moscow, the central Victory Parade on Red Square will proceed without military vehicles or cadets, according to official statements. This marks the first time since 2007 that the parade will lack military hardware. The BBC reports that Russian authorities have explicitly linked the scaling back of the Moscow parade to a perceived threat from Ukraine. Meanwhile, the independent Russian outlet Meduza, citing Russia's Defense Ministry, states the decision was attributed to the "current operational situation."
In St. Petersburg, plans for the city's parade have been sharply revised. Based on a report from the local outlet Fontanka, Meduza details that the number of spectators permitted to attend the event at Palace Square has been drastically reduced. Initial plans for approximately 5,600 attendees have been cut to just 310 invited guests, with the open viewing area for the public eliminated entirely. The decision followed a law enforcement coordination meeting attended by the city's governor. Furthermore, authorities have not yet decided whether the accompanying "Immortal Regiment" civilian march, where people carry portraits of wartime relatives, will be held in person this year. In previous years, this event was moved online, with officials citing "the situation in the country."
Meduza provides context for the security concerns, noting that in recent weeks, Ukrainian drones have been actively striking industrial infrastructure across Russia. The outlet also references a statement from a Ukrainian military commander, who claimed that territory deep inside Russia is "no longer a peaceful rear." The BBC's framing directly attributes the parade changes to the threat from Ukraine, while Meduza presents the official Russian reason alongside reporting on Ukrainian drone strikes and statements, allowing readers to connect the dots.
The scaling back of events is not isolated to the two major cities. Meduza reports that the format of military parades and processions on May 9 is "being discussed and revised across various cities" in Russia for 2026.