End of World War II: military parade in degraded mode in Russia

MOSCOW, May 9 (Reuters) – Russia held its most modest “Victory Day” parade in years on Saturday, due to the threat of an attack from Ukraine, where the Russian army has been entrenched for over four years.

The military parade on May 9 in Moscow is a highlight in Russia – the moment to celebrate the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany and honor the 27 million Soviets, many of them Ukrainians, who died during the conflict.

Once used to showcase Russian power, including its intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear capability, this year’s parade saw no tanks or any other military equipment marching on the Red Square. Only images of submarines, fighter jets, missiles, and drones were projected on giant screens.

Soldiers and sailors, some of whom have served in Ukraine, marched and cheered for President Vladimir Putin, seated alongside Russian war veterans at the foot of Vladimir Lenin’s mausoleum.

Fighter jets flew over the Kremlin, and Vladimir Putin reiterated in a brief eight-minute speech that the war in Ukraine – becoming less popular in Russia – was a “just cause.”

“The achievement of the victorious generation inspires the soldiers leading today’s special military operations,” he said. “They are facing an aggressively armed force supported by the entire NATO bloc. And yet, our heroes continue to advance.”

The Russian president then laid flowers on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

After Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating unilateral ceasefires declared in recent days to commemorate the end of World War II, Donald Trump announced a three-day ceasefire, from Saturday to Monday, accepted by Moscow and Kyiv. The two parties also agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners.

The American president expressed hope for extending the ceasefire. Ukraine is in favor of such an initiative, but Russia has so far opposed it, demanding Kyiv’s surrender beforehand.

No ceasefire violations were reported as of Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reassured that Kyiv, which has been launching drone strikes into Russia up to 1,500 km from its border, would not target the Moscow parade.

(Guy Faulconbridge and Vladimir Soldatkin，French version Tangi Salaün)