Russia Marks 80th Victory Day with Grand Parade, Global Guests, and a Message to the West

MOSCOW — Russia held its largest Victory Day celebration in years on Friday, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The spectacle on Moscow’s Red Square featured tanks, fighter jets, and intercontinental ballistic missiles — all under the watchful eye of President Vladimir Putin and an unusually high number of foreign leaders.

More than 11,500 troops and over 180 military vehicles rolled through the square, showcasing Russia’s military might. High above, fighter jets flew in tight formation, trailing plumes of smoke in the colors of the national flag.

This year’s parade wasn’t just about the past. It was a pointed message from the Kremlin: Russia isn’t isolated — and it’s not backing down. Sitting beside Putin were Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, part of the largest gathering of foreign dignitaries in Moscow since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.

A Show of Strength and Solidarity

Victory Day, celebrated annually on May 9, is Russia’s most significant secular holiday — a blend of national pride, military tradition, and political theater. For Putin, now in his 25th year in power, it’s also a moment to rally support at home and reinforce his vision of Russia as a global power defying Western pressure.

“This is about showing the world — and especially the West — that Russia still has powerful friends and is not alone,” said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. He noted that even Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico’s presence signaled divisions within the West and marked a public relations win for Putin.

Linking Past Sacrifice to Present Conflict

The Kremlin draws heavily on the emotional legacy of World War II, or the “Great Patriotic War,” as it’s known in Russia — a conflict in which the Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people. That sacrifice remains one of the few unifying chapters in Russian history and serves as a powerful national symbol.

Addressing the crowd, Putin praised Russian troops currently fighting in Ukraine. “We are proud of their courage and determination,” he said, casting today’s conflict as a continuation of Russia’s historic struggles.

Analysts say Putin has turned Victory Day into a “civic religion” — using nostalgia, patriotism, and nationalism to justify his increasingly authoritarian rule and Russia’s actions abroad.

North Korean Presence Raises Eyebrows

Among the guests in Red Square were senior North Korean military officials — one of whom received a hug from Putin. Last month, North Korea confirmed it had sent troops to support Russian operations in Ukraine, prompting growing concerns over a deepening military alliance between the two countries.

Russia recently claimed it had fully recaptured the Kursk region following a Ukrainian incursion last year — a claim Ukraine disputes.

Drone Strikes, Airport Chaos Shadow the Celebration

Despite the pageantry, Moscow wasn’t immune to the ongoing war’s realities. Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted airports in the capital, leading Aeroflot to cancel more than 100 flights on Wednesday and delay over 140 others. Authorities responded by ramping up security and deploying electronic countermeasures, which temporarily knocked out mobile internet service in parts of the city.

Similar parades were held across Russia, including in St. Petersburg and Volgograd — both of which temporarily reverted to their World War II-era names of Leningrad and Stalingrad for the occasion.

Diplomatic Meetings Behind the Scenes

After the parade, Putin hosted a Kremlin reception with the visiting world leaders and held bilateral talks with Lula. His foreign policy adviser later told Russian state media that Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump exchanged warm greetings “through their aides,” in recognition of their shared WWII commemoration.

Europe Responds with War Crimes Push

While Putin celebrated in Moscow, dozens of European officials gathered in Lviv, western Ukraine, where they backed the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute alleged Russian war crimes.

“Russia must feel our growing strength,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the summit. “This is a moral duty — for Europe and for anyone who values human life.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the tribunal would help “end impunity” for crimes committed during Russia’s invasion. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed that message: “Nobody can be left unpunished.”

In response, the Kremlin remained defiant. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov brushed off the tribunal initiative, saying Moscow would not comment.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported fresh Russian attacks across Kherson and Zaporizhzhia that killed at least two civilians and injured several more, underscoring the brutal toll of a war that shows no signs of ending.