Russia Confirms Scaled-Down Victory Day Parade — No Tanks or Heavy Weapons

For the first time in nearly two decades, Russia's Red Square Victory Day parade on May 9 was confirmed to proceed without tanks, armored vehicles, or other heavy weapons systems, with only a flyover by combat jets retained. Russian officials explained the change by reference to the 'current operational situation' and heightened security measures against possible Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow. The scaled-back format — removing the most symbolically powerful elements of the annual display — was itself a signal of the war's toll on Russia's military equipment and readiness.