Image Credits- The Moscow Times
Russia’s grand Victory Day parade in Moscow on Thursday marking the World War II defeat of Nazi Germany was noticeably diminished compared to previous years’ events, according to an assessment by the UK’s Ministry of Defence.
In its latest intelligence update, the British military noted that parades had been cancelled in 24 Russian cities this year, “primarily those in regions bordering Ukraine likely owing to poor security.” This is up from 21 cancelled parades in 2023.
The MoD said that of the 30 units on parade in Red Square, “over two-thirds were sourced from military academies, youth and veteran groups” rather than active duty forces. Domestic security and emergency services groups also made up a larger contingent than normal.
In total, around 9,000 military cadets, veterans and service personnel took part – more than the 8,000 participants last year but well below the over 11,000 in Russia’s 2021 Victory Day parade before the full-scale Ukraine invasion.
Perhaps most strikingly, the analysts said there was an “absence of heavy armoured vehicles or tracked military vehicles” in this year’s parade. Only a single main battle tank was present, in contrast to 2020 when some 20 tanks rolled through Red Square.
The reduced scale and makeup of the parade “likely reflected lingering systemic mobilisation challenges and continued high levels of commitment of Russian troops in Ukraine,” the MoD assessment stated.
The Victory Day commemorations are one of Russia’s most prestigious annual public events. The diminished showcase of military hardware and personnel underscores the strains on Moscow’s armed forces from over a year of intense fighting and losses in Ukraine.