Russia Reduces Scale of Victory Day Parade

Russian attacks throughout eastern Ukraine killed at least 27 people on Tuesday, including 12 in one of the worst strikes so far this year. The attacks occurred hours before a midnight deadline for an open-ended ceasefire proposed by Kyiv. Russia had announced its own ceasefire for May 8 to 9 to coincide with Victory Day commemorations of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

Ukraine proposed an open-ended ceasefire starting on Wednesday and urged Russia to reciprocate. Both ceasefire announcements collapsed almost immediately. The dueling proposals surrounded the important celebration marking the Soviet Union’s contribution to victory over Nazi Germany.

For the first time in nearly two decades, there will be no military hardware at the Red Square Victory Day parade. Only soldiers will participate, with no tanks or ballistic missiles on display. Officials cited the threat of Ukrainian drones over Red Square as justification for scaling back the event.

The word "Victory" dominates Red Square, appearing on giant red banners, video screens and art installations where people take selfies. Soldiers rehearsed for the annual parade that marks the defeat of Nazi Germany. Russia's national idea centers around the Soviet Union's victory in World War Two, making May 9 its most important national holiday.

A Russian lawmaker told reporters that tanks are needed on the battlefield in Ukraine rather than on Red Square. The lawmaker said NATO countries, Ukraine and Britain's weapons are threatening Russia. The scaled-back parade comes more than four years into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022.

“Our tanks are busy right now. They are fighting. The previous night a drone penetrated Moscow's air defenses and struck a luxury high-rise apartment four miles from the Kremlin. There were no casualties in the Moscow strike, but it caused extensive damage to an upper floor. Russia's defense ministry threatened to launch a retaliatory massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv if Moscow is attacked on May 9. The spokesman for the Russian president spoke of the terrorist threat from Ukraine. Public reaction in Moscow streets was mixed, with some residents citing safety concerns while others expressed disappointment over the lack of a full display of military strength. The conflict passed a milestone in January, lasting longer than the Soviet Union's fight against Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945. Recent polling suggests the Russian leader's domestic approval rating is falling. Fatigue with the war appears to be growing alongside concerns about the cost of living and restrictions on mobile internet imposed ahead of Victory Day.”

Ceremonies in memory of the 27 million Soviet citizens killed in World War Two will still take place across Russia. In one village near Moscow, schoolchildren laid red carnations at a local memorial. Two soldiers who had been fighting in Ukraine stood by the memorial wearing medals.

One of the fighters likened the current conflict in Ukraine to the Great Patriotic War. He declared that Russia is a country of victors that always was and always will be. Yet more than four years into the war, victory continues to elude Russia. Authorities have warned of restrictions on mobile internet in Moscow on Victory Day for security reasons.

Similar digital shutdowns have hit many Russian towns and cities in recent months. Officials say the measures prevent Ukrainian drone attacks and acts of sabotage, though they remain deeply unpopular.