🇷🇺 Putin Parades Power as Russia Marks 80 Years Since Nazi Defeat
Massive Victory Day Celebration in Moscow Draws Global Leaders Despite Ukraine War Tensions
MOSCOW Russia rolled out its military might on Friday, marking the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II with a grand Victory Day parade through Moscow’s iconic Red Square. Amid a grinding war in Ukraine and increasing tensions with the West, President Vladimir Putin stood center stage flanked by foreign allies as tanks rumbled, missiles soared, and fighter jets roared across the sky.
This year’s celebration was the most expansive since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, drawing an unusually large number of world leaders to the capital a strong show of diplomatic defiance against efforts to isolate the Kremlin.
Among the high-profile guests were Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, both seated beside Putin during the military display. Their presence sent a clear message: Russia still commands influence and respect among a “global majority,” despite heavy Western sanctions and continued fighting in Ukraine.
“Russia is not isolated,” said Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. “It’s standing tall among the victors of World War II.”
Also in attendance was Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico a European Union leader underscoring Moscow’s deepening efforts to fracture the Western front against it
🇷🇺 Victory Day: Symbolism, Power, and Legacy
Victory Day, celebrated annually on May 9, has grown into more than a historical commemoration under Putin’s leadership. It has become, analysts say, a civic religion blending patriotism, military pride, and political justification for Russia’s assertive global posture.
The Soviet Union’s staggering loss of 27 million lives in what it calls the “Great Patriotic War” still unites Russians across political lines. The Kremlin taps into that emotion, using it to reinforce narratives of national resilience and moral authority especially in the context of the Ukraine war.
Addressing a crowd of thousands in Red Square, Putin hailed Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine:
A Show of Might
This year’s military parade featured over 11,500 troops and 180 armored vehicles from tanks and artillery to drones and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The highlight was the imposing Yars missile launchers capable of carrying nuclear warheads rolling across the cobblestones as a chilling reminder of Russia’s firepower.
Drones, now central to modern warfare, were also paraded in tribute to their growing role in the Ukraine conflict. Above, fighter jets painted the sky in the colors of the Russian flag, thrilling spectators with precision aerobatics.
After the parade, Putin warmly greeted military generals and even embraced North Korean officers attending the event a symbolic gesture following Pyongyang’s recent confirmation of its support on the battlefield.
Security Tight as Tensions Rise
Security across Moscow was intense, following a wave of Ukrainian drone strikes that disrupted air travel and triggered electronic countermeasures. Internet service was patchy near sensitive sites, while Aeroflot canceled and delayed hundreds of flights ahead of the parade.
Putin had declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire starting May 7 to coincide with Victory Day, but Russian airstrikes in Ukraine continued on Friday. Ukrainian authorities reported deadly missile and drone attacks in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, with civilians among the casualties.
Europe Pushes Back from Lviv
As Moscow celebrated, European leaders gathered in Lviv, Ukraine, in a symbolic counterpoint. There, they announced support for a special tribunal to prosecute Russian officials accused of war crimes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for moral accountability:
“Russia must feel our collective, growing strength. This tribunal is a duty for everyone who values human life.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot echoed the sentiment, calling the tribunal a step toward justice:
“No crime committed during this war of aggression should go unpunished.”
Diplomacy and Diverging Narratives
Despite the ongoing war, diplomatic signals flowed. Putin hosted a reception with visiting leaders at the Kremlin, including a bilateral meeting with Lula. Interestingly, Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump also exchanged “warm words” and congratulations through aides, according to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov.
Meanwhile, cities across Russia held their own Victory Day parades under tight security. In a nod to wartime heritage, St. Petersburg temporarily reverted to its Soviet name, Leningrad, and Volgograd to its WWII-era name, Stalingrad.
Even amid the harsh realities of war and geopolitical rifts, the symbolism of May 9 remains powerful a day when Russia looks backward with pride and forward with defiance.
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