Russia Holds Victory Day Parade in Moscow

Russia held one of its most scaled-back Victory Day parades in years on Saturday, with only an Aurus limousine appearing as mechanized equipment on Red Square amid heightened security concerns over possible Ukrainian attacks. The event, which commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, featured no tanks, missiles or other heavy military hardware for the first time in nearly two decades.

Officials attributed the downsizing to the current operational situation more than four years into the conflict in Ukraine. A three-day ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump took effect Saturday through Monday, accompanied by an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war on each side.

Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed Russia's acceptance of the initiative while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cited the prospect of freeing prisoners as the reason for Ukraine's consent. m. Kyiv time on Saturday. The Russian side also agreed to the arrangement, according to reports.

Earlier unilateral ceasefires announced separately by each country failed to hold, with both sides blaming the other for continued attacks. The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces ceased combat operations from midnight but accused Ukrainian forces of striking positions and civilian infrastructure in the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

Ukraine reported that Russian forces continued attacks on the front line while its air defenses downed 56 Russian drones. Zelensky described the Russian unilateral ceasefire as lacking any pretense of sincerity.

The parade occurred under tight security with mobile internet and text messaging restricted across Moscow to prevent potential Ukrainian drone navigation. The Kremlin ramped up protection for Putin, citing threats from Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said additional security protocols were in place given the complex operational situation and terrorist threat posed by the Kyiv regime.

Photos from the event showed a subdued atmosphere compared with previous years. The only motorized vehicle visible was an Aurus limousine carrying Putin, while a traditional flyover by warplanes still took place.

The prisoner exchange of 1,000 individuals from each side forms part of the Trump-brokered deal. Zelensky wrote on Telegram that Red Square matters less to Ukraine than bringing home its prisoners of war. Peskov dismissed Zelensky's decree authorizing the parade as a silly joke, stating that Russia does not need anyone's permission to celebrate Victory Day.

Both sides continued long-range strikes in the days leading up to the holiday. Ukraine reported hitting oil facilities in the Yaroslavl and Perm regions while Russia said it downed hundreds of Ukrainian drones and missiles. The scaled-back celebrations have drawn attention to difficulties facing the Russian leadership.

Ukraine's improved drone and missile capabilities have allowed strikes deep inside Russia, targeting oil production, manufacturing plants and military depots. Flights at 13 southern Russian airports were temporarily suspended after a Ukrainian drone struck an air navigation building in Rostov-on-Don but later resumed.

The low-key nature of the event adds to perceptions that Russian cities can no longer be fully insulated from the war. Putin, who has ruled for more than 25 years, has traditionally used Victory Day to rally domestic support and project strength. The ceasefire agreement announced by Trump on Friday appeared aimed at building momentum toward peace talks, though analysts noted deep-seated mistrust between the parties after more than four years of conflict.

The deal followed mutual accusations over the collapse of separate unilateral truce attempts earlier in the week.