Russian President Vladimir Putin

Putin speaks at Victory Day amid tight security

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Russian President Vladimir Putin prepared to speak on Saturday at Russia’s annual Victory Day parade in Red Square.
Russia held its annual Victory Day parade in Red Square on Saturday with a significantly reduced military display.
US-brokered ceasefire remains in effect following mediation by US President Donald Trump.
Both Moscow and Kyiv continue to trade warnings of retaliation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over the Great Patriotic War commemorations on Saturday amid unprecedented security measures in Moscow.

Parade without heavy armor

In a departure from a 20-year tradition, the parade featured no heavy weaponry, armored vehicles, or intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Aside from a ceremonial flyover by combat jets, the display was restricted to marching troops.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov attributed the sudden change to the "current operational situation," citing the need for additional safety measures against potential long-range threats.

US-brokered ceasefire holds

The festivities occurred under the umbrella of a three-day truce announced on Friday by US President Donald Trump.

The agreement, which runs from Saturday through Monday, includes a landmark exchange of 2,000 total prisoners.

Trump expressed hope that the pause in the five-year conflict could signal the "beginning of the end" of the war.

Despite the agreement, tensions remained high; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a mocking decree "permitting" the celebrations to proceed, while the Kremlin dismissed his comments as a "silly joke."

Security lockdown in Moscow

To prevent disruptions from long-range drones, which have recently struck targets deep within Russia, authorities implemented a total blackout of mobile internet and text messaging services across the capital on Saturday.

This crackdown on communication follows years of tightening internet censorship under the Putin administration.

While smaller parades across Russia were canceled entirely, the Moscow event was attended by several international leaders, including the King of Malaysia and the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Laos.

Warnings of massive retaliation

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, the Russian Defense Ministry issued a stark warning prior to the parade, stating that any Ukrainian attempt to disrupt the event would trigger a "massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv."

Russian officials even advised foreign diplomats to evacuate the Ukrainian capital.

While the EU confirmed its diplomats would remain in Kyiv, the threat underscored the fragility of the current truce as both nations continue to navigate a conflict that has redefined the regional security landscape.