Vladimir Putin declared Russia will always be victorious as he oversaw a scaled-back Victory Day parade on Red Square, held under heavy security amid fears of Ukrainian attacks and growing public war fatigue. The parade was shorter than usual, lasting about 45 minutes, and lacked the customary display of missiles and armoured vehicles.
In his speech, Putin invoked the sacrifices of World War II to rally support for Russian soldiers in Ukraine, stating: 'They stand against an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire Nato bloc. And despite this, our heroes move forward. Victory has always been and will always be ours.'
Moscow was blanketed in heavy security, with internet services switched off across the city. The event was only confirmed after a last-minute announcement of a three-day ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, brokered by US President Donald Trump. Ukraine initially dismissed the ceasefire proposal as a cynical ploy but later agreed, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying Ukraine would 'permit' the parade by choosing not to attack.
This year's parade was the first since Russia's war on Ukraine outlasted the Soviet Union's entire campaign against Nazi Germany. Putin sat flanked by soldiers who had fought in Ukraine, rather than World War II veterans as in previous years. The audience included a small delegation of foreign leaders from Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and a column of North Korean soldiers marched across the square.
Russian authorities openly acknowledged that security measures were designed to protect Putin, underscoring the shift in the war's trajectory. The Russian economy is showing signs of strain, with slowing growth, rising inflation, and record budget deficits. On the battlefield, advances have slowed, with both sides suffering heavy casualties and showing signs of exhaustion.
