Russia’s Victory Day Parade Marks 80-Year Milestone/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russia marked the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat with a grand Victory Day parade in Moscow. President Putin welcomed over two dozen global leaders, highlighting Russia’s continued military might and alliances. The event was overshadowed by ongoing drone attacks and rising tensions with Ukraine and the West.
Victory Day Parade 2025 Quick Looks
- Russia celebrates 80 years since Nazi Germany’s defeat in WWII.
- Largest Victory Day parade since the 2022 Ukraine invasion.
- Over 11,500 troops and 180+ military vehicles showcased.
- Putin hosted leaders including China’s Xi Jinping and Brazil’s Lula.
- Putin praised soldiers fighting in Ukraine, reinforcing nationalism.
- Drones and nuclear missiles were prominent in military display.
- Ukraine launched drone attacks during the Moscow festivities.
- Global leaders met in Ukraine to call for Russian war tribunals.
- Russian cities temporarily adopted Soviet-era names.
- EU nations pushed for more sanctions and legal accountability.
Russia’s Victory Day Parade Marks 80-Year Milestone
Deep Look
Russia Marks 80th Anniversary of WWII Victory with Massive Military Parade and Global Audience
On May 9, 2025, Russia held an elaborate Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II. The event, led by President Vladimir Putin, was not just a national celebration, but a global political statement—especially amid the continuing war in Ukraine.
Victory Day is Russia’s most significant secular holiday, reflecting deep-rooted national pride over the Soviet Union’s role in defeating the Nazis. The Soviet death toll in WWII was staggering—estimated at 27 million—and this sacrifice is central to Russian identity and patriotism. Leveraging this historical sentiment, Putin has made the Victory Day parade a cornerstone of his regime, using it to affirm Russia’s power, historical legacy, and legitimacy on the world stage.
This year’s parade was the largest since Russia’s 2022 military intervention in Ukraine and saw the attendance of more than two dozen foreign dignitaries. Most notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva were seated alongside Putin, signaling strong ties with major non-Western powers. The presence of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, a European Union member, was touted by analysts as a major propaganda victory for the Kremlin.
“Russia is showing it’s not isolated, it’s embraced by much of the world,” said Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. He emphasized how the presence of leaders from both the East and some within the Western bloc highlighted Russia’s strategic diplomatic gains despite Western sanctions and efforts to isolate it over the war in Ukraine.
The parade featured over 11,500 troops and more than 180 military units. The visual spectacle included tanks, armored personnel carriers, and missile launchers. Among the most striking displays were the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems, as well as drones—now a key element in the modern battlefield. Fighter jets soared over Red Square, trailing smoke in the colors of the Russian flag.
In his address, Putin lauded the valor and commitment of Russian forces currently fighting in Ukraine, casting them as heirs to the Soviet soldiers who defeated fascism. “Their spiritual power continues to bring us victory,” he proclaimed. For the Russian president, who has held power for 25 years, Victory Day has become a ritual blending militarism, patriotism, and political legitimacy.
Putin also interacted closely with senior military figures, including North Korean officers, underscoring the tightening military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang. Just weeks before, Putin had acknowledged North Korea’s military participation alongside Russian troops in Ukraine—a controversial and globally condemned move.
Despite the pomp, the event occurred under a cloud of security concerns. Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Moscow in the lead-up to the parade, forcing the cancellation of more than 100 Aeroflot flights. The capital saw widespread cellphone internet outages, a result of counter-drone electronic measures deployed to protect the event.
Across Russia, cities hosted their own parades under heavy security. Symbolically, cities reverted to their WWII-era names—St. Petersburg became Leningrad, and Volgograd returned to Stalingrad—honoring their roles in the Soviet war effort.
In a gesture of temporary de-escalation, Putin declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire beginning May 7. However, he warned that Russia would retaliate against any attacks. Meanwhile, Moscow refused to agree to a 30-day truce proposed by the U.S., insisting on conditions like halting Western arms deliveries to Ukraine—demands Kyiv and its allies reject.
Ukraine reported that Russian strikes killed two civilians and injured several more in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia on the same day as the parade. A Russian drone attack on a civilian vehicle in Zaporizhzhia further heightened the humanitarian toll of the ongoing war.
In a counter-message to Russia’s military showcase, dozens of European diplomats gathered in Lviv, western Ukraine, to advocate for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal to prosecute Russian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of global accountability: “This tribunal will ensure that no one escapes justice for war crimes,” he said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reinforced Europe’s unified stance. Barrot confirmed that another round of sanctions against Russia was forthcoming, while Kallas stressed that impunity could not be allowed for crimes against humanity.
While Russia celebrated its WWII triumphs with grandeur and defiance, the contrast between Red Square and the somber calls for justice in Lviv illustrated the deepening global divide over the war in Ukraine and the future of international accountability.
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