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

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

The military parade on May 9 in Moscow is a key event in Russia – a 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 and nuclear capabilities, this year’s parade featured no tanks or other military equipment rolling through Red Square. Only images of submarines, fighter jets, missiles, and drones were projected on giant screens.

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

Fighter jets then flew over the Kremlin, and Vladimir Putin reiterated in an eight-minute speech that the war in Ukraine – increasingly unpopular in Russia – was a “just cause,”

“The exploits of the victorious generation inspire the soldiers leading today’s special military operations,” he declared. “They face aggressive force armed and 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 sides 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 a surrender from Kyiv beforehand.

No violations of the ceasefire in effect on Saturday have been reported so far.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky assured that Kyiv, which has been carrying out drone strikes in Russia, up to 1500 km from its border, would not target the Moscow parade.

(Guy Faulconbridge and Vladimir Soldatkin; French version by Tangi Salaün)