Russia’s Victory Day parade goes without armor in 2026 after losing 24,486 combat vehicles in Ukraine
The 9 May "Victory Day" military parade in Moscow will take place without the traditional display of armored vehicles. Only foot columns of troops will march across Red Square, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Previously, the Moscow parade served as a large-scale demonstration of military power, showcasing equipment to both the world and the domestic public. Traditionally, foreign leaders attended the 9 May celebrations in Moscow, allowing the Kremlin to partially offset international isolation following the war against Ukraine.
Parade loses hardware and shifts its format of power display
The reasons for excluding armored vehicles have not been officially explained. Possible explanations include the threat of drone attacks or a shortage of equipment due to battlefield losses or deployment at the front.
Since 2022, Russia has lost 11,894 tanks, 24,486 armored combat vehicles, 40,825 artillery systems, and 1755 MLRS in the war against Ukraine, as per the Ukrainian General Staff.
The marching columns will include soldiers from higher military educational institutions representing various branches of the armed forces.
Cadets excluded and participant numbers reduced
Students from Suvorov and Nakhimov military schools, cadet corps, and the mechanized column will not participate this year.
Organizers state that the parade will emphasize military personnel who are engaged in combat operations against Ukraine.
This includes units from the Strategic Missile Forces, Aerospace Forces, and the Navy.
Aviation segment preserved for symbolic effect
The air component of the parade will remain in the program.
Aerobatic teams are scheduled to perform, and Su-25 attack aircraft are expected to display the Russian flag in the sky.
In 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the parade with foreign leaders in attendance, including Xi Jinping.
However, even then, the event was not without incidents, for instance, when a decorative Kremlin structure collapsed during transportation in Moscow, the Disinformation Center reported.
