Overview

• The annual Victory Day parade in Moscow featured a reduced number of troops and military equipment compared to previous years.
• The parade included only one Soviet-era tank and 8,000 troops, the lowest since 2008, leading to speculation that losses in Ukraine depleted resources.
• Putin gave a speech warning of Western aggression but the muted celebration was seen as an attempt to avoid criticism over the war in Ukraine.
• Foreign leaders attended to show Russia's influence but Ukraine moved its Victory Day and renamed it Europe Day to distance itself from Moscow.
• Analysts viewed the reduced scale of the event as embarrassing for Russia and showcasing the country's insecurities and depleted military resources due to the conflict in Ukraine.