Russia's Victory Day Parade Scaled Down Amid Security Concerns
Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9, 2026, was notably scaled down, omitting heavy military equipment for the first time in nearly two decades. President Vladimir Putin presided over the event, delivering a speech that compared the current conflict in Ukraine to the resistance against Nazi forces in World War II. The parade took place under tight security amid ongoing concerns about the Ukraine war and internal economic and social issues in Russia. Notably, international journalists' attendance was limited, and the number of foreign dignitaries invited was reduced compared to previous years. 
