President Vladimir Putin has ordered a ban on fireworks and tightened security measures across Moscow ahead of this year’s Victory Day parade, as fears of Ukrainian drone attacks loom large and doubts grow over the attendance of key foreign allies, according to The Times UK.
The annual May 9 parade, a cornerstone of Russian national pride commemorating the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany, is set to be particularly grand this year, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. However, Putin’s show of military might is under threat due to a surge in drone strikes and increasing geopolitical strain.
On Monday, Moscow’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that at least 19 Ukrainian drones were intercepted as they approached the capital — the second night in a row of aerial attacks. In response, residents have been urged not to launch fireworks or operate drones, and internet disruptions have been reported in the city as part of heightened security protocols.
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, Putin has invited high-profile allies, including China’s President Xi Jinping and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to attend the celebrations on Red Square. Xi’s visit, his third since the invasion began in 2022, is seen as a crucial show of solidarity for the Kremlin amid growing international isolation.
Still, the attendance of other foreign leaders remains uncertain. Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić — both traditionally pro-Kremlin figures — have recently been affected by unexplained health issues, throwing their planned visits into doubt. The European Union has also issued a warning to member states, discouraging official participation in this year’s event.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to guarantee the safety of foreign dignitaries visiting Russia, stating bluntly: “We will not provide any guarantees, because we do not know what Russia might do on those dates.” Ukraine has also accused Moscow of potentially staging a false-flag terror attack to discredit Kyiv.
In occupied Crimea, the traditional parade in Sevastopol has already been cancelled due to the elevated risk of attack, further raising concerns about the Kremlin’s ability to secure even its most symbolic occasions.
Putin’s Victory Day address is expected to denounce Western “aggression” and frame the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as a continuation of the Soviet struggle against fascism — a narrative he has promoted since launching the full-scale invasion.
Meanwhile, Russians will still witness a display of military hardware, including tanks, howitzers, and intercontinental ballistic missiles parading through the cobbled expanse of Red Square, culminating in thousands of soldiers chanting “Uraaa!” — a patriotic rallying cry meant to evoke historical resilience.
Yet the list of confirmed attendees — long considered a measure of Russia’s diplomatic standing — is looking thinner than in previous years. The return of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who boycotted last year’s event over Russia’s inaction during Armenia’s conflict with Azerbaijan, may offer some consolation. However, regular appearances by Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko are unlikely to stir much excitement among Russians weary of international isolation and ongoing war.
As The Times UK reports, Putin’s efforts to present a united and defiant Russia may be overshadowed by insecurity — both physical and political — as he prepares to host the world under the specter of conflict and growing unpredictability.
