Overview

• Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth will represent India at Russia’s 80th Victory Day parade on May 9 in Moscow.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declined attendance due to heightened domestic security concerns after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
• The Pahalgam attack, which left 26 dead, has escalated tensions along the India-Pakistan border and reprioritized India’s diplomatic engagements.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the Pahalgam attack as a 'brutal crime' and reiterated Russia’s commitment to counterterrorism cooperation with India.
• The Victory Day parade commemorates the Soviet Union’s World War II victory, with 19 global leaders, including Xi Jinping and António Guterres, confirmed to attend.