Russia Holds Scaled-Down Victory Day Parade; North Korean Troops March for First Time

Russia held its annual Victory Day parade on Red Square on May 9, 2026 — scaled back without tanks, armored vehicles, or ground weapons for the first time in nearly two decades, with only a flyover of combat jets. For the first time, North Korean troops marched in the parade — a tribute to Pyongyang's contribution to Russia's Kursk campaign, where approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers fought against Ukrainian forces. Foreign leaders attending included Belarusian President Lukashenko with his son Nikolai, and the presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The parade proceeded under tight security amid the US-brokered three-day ceasefire in the war.