Russia commemorated the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II with a grand military parade on Moscow’s Red Square, attended by President Vladimir Putin and foreign leaders including China’s Xi Jinping and Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Celebrated on May 9, Victory Day is Russia’s most significant secular holiday and a powerful display of national pride and military strength.
The event, involving over 11,500 troops and more than 180 military vehicles, showcased tanks, artillery, and intercontinental ballistic missile launchers, symbolizing Russia’s military capabilities amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Fighter jets flew in formation, leaving trails of red, white, and blue—echoing the Russian flag.
Putin used the occasion to draw parallels between World War II and current events, praising Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine and invoking the nation’s wartime legacy. The memory of the Soviet Union’s loss of 27 million lives in the war continues to unify the Russian people across political lines.
The parade also featured North Korean military officers, including a visibly honored officer embraced by Putin. Last month, Russia acknowledged North Korea’s military support in Ukraine, with Putin publicly thanking Pyongyang for its involvement and sacrifices on the battlefield.
