Russia to hold equipment-free Red Square parade as Ukraine war grinds on
Moscow will exclude military equipment from its May 9 celebrations, citing ‘Ukrainian terrorist activity’
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia’s annual Victory Day military parade on Red Square had been scaled back this year and would not include military equipment due to the risk of what it described as “Ukrainian terrorist activity”.
The parade, held on May 9, marks the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II, a conflict Russians call the Great Patriotic War.
One of the top holidays on the Russian calendar, it allows the dwindling number of veterans to gather in streets with medals on display and is accompanied by an outpouring of emotion marked by feature films, documentaries and wartime music.
But this year, the defence ministry said late on Tuesday, no military hardware would pass through the square.
“Military personnel from the higher military educational institutions of all types and individual branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will take part in the parade as part of the marching column,” a statement said.
It said representatives of certain educational institutions would not participate “and nor will a column of military equipment take part in the military parade in connection with the current operational situation”.
