Putin's parade plans face uncertainty amid ceasefire dispute
Vladimir Putin proposed a ceasefire to Ukraine on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. President Volodymyr Zelensky responded that this was "another attempt at manipulation." Many indications suggest that on 9 May, Ukrainians might disrupt the holiday, traditionally used by the Kremlin as a demonstration of strength. This year, Russia plans to celebrate the anniversary with particular grandeur.
The ceasefire proposed by Moscow was intended to be in effect from midnight on 8 May to midnight on 11 May. Putin cited humanitarian grounds, which—in the context of the war that has been ongoing for over three years and Russian actions in Ukraine—sounds not only unbelievable but downright cynical.
Zelensky criticized the proposed ceasefire delay, calling it another act of manipulation. He questioned why global efforts to halt fighting should be timed around May 7 simply to provide Putin with a quiet backdrop for a parade, emphasizing that human lives should take precedence over ceremonial displays.
Although the response is not an unequivocal rejection of the proposal, it leaves room for interpretation. Therefore, it is unknown whether the traditional parade on Red Square—in Russia, treated almost like a religious holiday—will proceed without disruptions.
Victory parades – a symbol of Russian strength
The central celebrations will take place in Moscow, but parades are also planned in regional cities and republic capitals. For several years they have been exclusively pedestrian in nature. In total, parades are planned in 28 cities: nine granted the title of "heroic" and in 19 cities serving as the headquarters of Military Districts and Armies.
In Soviet times, parades on Red Square were primarily demonstrations—their aim was to intimidate the West. The most significant were those organised on 1 May (Labour Day) and 7 November (anniversary of the October Revolution). They showcased the latest, often prototype military equipment. For example, on 1 May 1947, the Tu-70 passenger aircraft debuted, followed by the Tu-4 bomber—a copy of the American B-29—a year later.
Only since 1965 did the 9 May parade begin to serve as a "showroom" for Soviet military technology. However, it was not an annual event. It was only from 2000, when Putin took power, that the holiday was celebrated regularly. From 2008, the parades gained an imperial scale, showcasing new generations of missiles, planes, and air defence systems every year.
In 2015, vehicles from the Armata family were showcased for the first time, including the T-14 tank and the heavy IFV T-15. The Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer, the Boomerang transporter, and the Kurganets-25 also debuted. The Su-57, Russia's first fifth-generation fighter, was presented in the air, according to the Kremlin's narrative.
Post-invasion – a parade without grandeur
Putin's favourite holiday has lost significance after 2022. The invasion of Ukraine exposed the weaknesses of the army, which had been the pride of propaganda. Heavy equipment began to be missing at parades—in regional cities, mechanised components were entirely abandoned. In 2023–2024, the only tank present on Red Square was the historic T-34-85, accompanied by Tigr vehicles, a few transporters, and mobile rocket launchers.
The only new equipment shown after 2022 was the Chinese anti-drone system TX-FQ-01, available for commercial sale, including on the AliExpress platform. Its presence speaks volumes about the state of the Russian arms industry and the real fear of Ukrainian drones, which increasingly attack Russian cities.
This year, we will certainly see the T-34-85 belonging to the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division again. The Russians brought these from Laos in 2019 to adorn the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the end of the war.
It is not excluded that modern equipment will appear this time. Western intelligence has been reporting for months that part of the production does not reach the front but remains in the country—possibly with the September 2025 Zapad manoeuvres in mind, planned in Belarus and western Russia.
Propaganda vs reality
This year's parade—due to the round anniversary—will have a special setting. For the Kremlin, it is an opportunity to once again demonstrate the "invincibility" of the Russian army. The official narrative claims that Russia is once again standing up to fight "fascism"—this time Ukrainian.
Putin will certainly prepare a spectacle. The only question is whether Ukraine will allow him to celebrate. So far, Moscow has been relatively spared, but in previous years, drone attacks have effectively disrupted the Kremlin's plans. In 2023, fears of threats led to the cancellation of parades in Belgorod, Kursk, Rostov-on-Don, and Sevastopol, among others.
