Russia Reduces Scale of Victory Day Parade

The scaled-back event on May 9 will feature only soldiers marching on Red Square with no tanks, no ballistic missiles or other military hardware for the first time in nearly two decades. A Russian lawmaker told reporters that tanks were needed more on the battlefield in Ukraine than for display in the parade.

The absence of heavy equipment has been justified by officials citing the threat of Ukrainian drone attacks on the capital.

The night before the parade preparations intensified, a Ukrainian drone penetrated Moscow's air defenses and struck a luxury high-rise apartment building four miles from the Kremlin. There were no casualties but the upper floor sustained extensive damage.

The previous day, a long-range Ukrainian missile and drone strike on the city of Cheboksary killed two people and wounded more than 30. Russia's defense ministry has threatened a retaliatory massive missile strike on central Kyiv if Moscow is attacked during the May 9 events.

Officials have imposed restrictions on mobile internet across Moscow on Victory Day, claiming the measures are needed to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks and sabotage. Similar digital shutdowns in recent months have proven deeply unpopular with the public.

Residents interviewed near Red Square expressed divided views on the decision to remove military hardware from the parade. Some acknowledged safety concerns while others said the absence of tanks projected weakness rather than strength on the world stage.

One passerby stated that displaying military equipment demonstrates power internationally, while another noted that skipping the hardware might signal fear. A third resident suggested that if current circumstances prevent a full parade, the traditional display could return the following year.

The word "Victory" dominates Red Square with giant banners, video screens and art installations drawing crowds for selfies. Ceremonies honoring the 27 million Soviet citizens killed in World War Two continue across Russia despite the pared-down central event.

Recent polling by state-run agencies indicates the Russian leader's domestic approval rating has begun to fall. Public fatigue with the conflict appears to be growing alongside rising concern over the cost of living and irritation with repeated internet restrictions.

In one village near Moscow, soldiers who had fought in Ukraine attended a memorial ceremony for villagers killed in the earlier war. One fighter interviewed likened the current conflict to the Great Patriotic War, declaring that Russia remains a country of victors.

Yet more than four years on, a clear victory in Ukraine continues to elude Russian forces.

“Our tanks are busy right now. They are fighting. We need them more on the battlefield than on Red Square.”

A new report estimates the separate U.S. involvement in the Iran war has already reached nearly $72 billion in its first 60 days, or about $1.2 billion per day. The figure includes operations, weapons, subsidies to Israel and roughly $11.9 billion in lost or damaged military assets.

The estimate substantially exceeds figures provided by the Pentagon to Congress last week. Harvard economist Linda Bilmes predicted the long-term cost to the U.S. could reach at least $1 trillion when including veterans' care and other after effects.