Moscow, Russia: Russia held its 2026 Victory Day parade on May 9, marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, with President Vladimir Putin, over 11,500 military personnel, and foreign dignitaries attending on Red Square.
The parade opened with the Preobrazhensky Regiment Honour Guard carrying the Russian national flag and the historic Victory Banner, hoisted over the Reichstag in 1945 by the 150th Idritskaya Rifle Division.
Defence Minister Andrey Belousov reviewed the parade, commanded by Ground Forces Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev, which included 1,500 troops currently serving in Ukraine. Squads from 13 allied countries also participated.
For the second consecutive year, the parade excluded tanks, missiles, and heavy military hardware, focusing on marching troops, honour guards, and aerial flyovers, reflecting operational strains and security concerns amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Putin emphasised national unity, honouring WWII veterans, and preserving historical memory, while linking the sacrifices of the Great Patriotic War to the “special military operation” in Ukraine, asserting broad public support for current military actions.
Hello from Moscow!! Happy Victory Day!! pic.twitter.com/7lM5ZcwhMR
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) May 9, 2026Over 20 world leaders attended, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Putin also acknowledged the opening of the Second Front by Western allies in WWII, but contrasted it with current Western military support for Ukraine.
The parade took place amid a fragile three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. strikes, underscoring the geopolitical backdrop to the ceremonial event.
