Under the Ukrainian threat, Russia is organizing a drastically reduced May 9th military parade.

Russia is holding a significantly scaled-down Victory Day parade on Saturday amid strong concerns about the war in Ukraine and the threat of possible attacks on Russian territory.

The May 9th parade, held annually in Moscow's Red Square, remains one of the country's most important national celebrations. It commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II and pays tribute to the approximately 27 million Soviet citizens who died during the conflict.

But this 2026 edition marks a significant break with the usual displays of military power. No tanks or heavy military equipment are scheduled to parade across the cobblestones of Red Square this year, as Russian authorities fear Ukrainian strikes.

President Vladimir Putin is nevertheless expected to deliver a speech to the armed forces and lay flowers on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, while fighter jets fly over the Kremlin.

This celebration comes as Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to a temporary three-day ceasefire announced by the US president. Donald TrumpDespite this truce, tensions remain extremely high and both sides continue to accuse each other of violations.

More than four years after the start of the Russian invasion, the war in Ukraine continues to weigh heavily on Russian society. Public concern is growing in the face of a conflict that has become the deadliest in Europe since World War II.

Long used to display the country's military power, notably through the exhibition of nuclear missiles and armored vehicles, the May 9th parade now appears as a reflection of a Russia under security pressure and engaged in a war whose outcome remains uncertain.