Putin denounces Nato at scaled back Victory Day parade

The Russian leader used his annual speech to justify his so-called special military operation in Ukraine. Putin denounces Nato at scaled back Russia's Victory Day parade Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Russian President Vladimir Putin stands wearing a dark suit at a lectern in Moscow's Red Square as he gives a speech. Putin denounces Nato at scaled back Victory Day parade Vladimir Putin has used his annual Victory Day speech in Moscow's Red Square to justify his war in Ukraine and denounce Nato. Speaking in front of hundreds of military personnel and flanked by a few world leaders, the Russian president said he was fighting a "just" war and called Ukraine an "aggressive force" that is being "armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato". His remarks come amid muted celebrations across parts of Russia to mark the nation's biggest national holiday, which commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. Ahead of the celebrations, Russia and Ukraine agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire, which was announced by US President Donald Trump on Friday. For the first time in nearly two decades, no military hardware featured in Moscow's Victory Day parade. But under tightened security, military personnel marched in droves across Red Square. Addressing the crowd, Putin started his speech by commemorating the sacrifices of USSR soldiers during World War Two. "The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today," he said, referring to the war in Ukraine. "They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato. And despite this, our heroes move forward." The Russian leader went on to celebrate the citizens of Russia, making reference to the contributions of workers to its war effort, including scientists, inventors, military correspondents, doctors and teachers. "No matter how military tactics change, the future of the country is being provided for by the people," he said. Immediately after the speech, cannons fired successive rounds before music was played by a military brass band. Behind Putin was Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Also in attendance at the event were Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith and Malaysia's King, Sultan Ibrahim. Markedly fewer world leaders turned up compared to last year's 80th anniversary parade, which included China's President Xi Jinping and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Russian TV viewers were also shown a broadcast of soldiers on the front lines after Putin's speech. No military hardware featured at the event in Moscow for the first time in years Rows of Russian service members take part in a military parade in Moscow's Red Square. Soldiers from Russian regiments participated A Russian soldier poses for a photo with a woman in Moscow's Red Square. North Korean soldiers stand in rows wearing dark blue uniforms with gold decorations and holding guns. Ahead of the parade in Moscow, other celebrations had already taken place in cities in Russia's east. They included celebrations in far-eastern Vladivostok, where people participated in a march commemorating war veterans, known as the Immortal Regiment march. Soldiers gathered for a parade in the far-eastern city of Vladivostok A Russian military commander salutes while standing in an open-top, white car being driven by another soldier on a road flanked by rows of military personnel. Locals took part in an Immortal Regiment march. The marches commemorate war veterans and are a regular feature of Victory Day celebrations across Russia Crowds of people march along a road carrying placards featuring pictures of soldiers and veterans during an Immortal Regiment march in Vladivostok. Russian service members march in rows along a road in Vladivostok. The regiment is made up of women wearing black and gold uniforms. Some parades taking place across the country were expected to include military vehicles, though most were reported to be from World War Two rather than modern, according to Russian state media. Other parades and public celebrations were called off altogether. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched in 2022 and has been going on for more than four years. Despite the movement of troops and military equipment to the front lines, Russia had continued to feature military hardware such as tanks, missiles and other weapons in its annual Moscow parade up until now. But last week officials announced this year's parade would be scaled back, citing the "current operational situation". "Our tanks are busy right now," Russian MP Yevgeny Popov told the BBC earlier this week. "They are fighting. We need them more on the battlefield than on Red Square." Security measures have also been tightened, with threats of Ukrainian drones used to justify the paring back of this year's parade. Russian National Guard officers walk across Red Square decorated for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, on May 6, 2026. Rosenberg: Russia's Victory Day parade with no tanks a sign Ukraine war not going to plan A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine appeared to hold as the parades took place across parts of Russia. Putin had earlier announced a ceasefire for 8-9 May, while Kyiv had called for an indefinite truce, starting 6 May. Since those announcements, the two countries had accused each other of extensive battlefield ceasefire violations. Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian strike on a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 07 May 2026 Trump says Russia and Ukraine to observe three-day ceasefire A person is silhouetted against a glowing orange sky as they look at their smartphone, with the silhouette of the Kremlin in the background during sunset in the Red Square in Moscow on 31 March. Steve Rosenberg: Kremlin's tightening grip on internet fuels Russian discontent It comes as the two countries accused each other of violating separate ceasefires to cover the celebrations of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. Greek media say the drone, which reportedly had explosives, could be either Ukrainian or linked to the Russia-Ukraine war. An estimated 11,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine. For the first time in nearly two decades, there will be no military hardware, just soldiers during Saturday's parade in Moscow. The road crossing is the latest sign of the deepening relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow. Protests have taken place at the prestigious arts fair over the inclusion of Russia for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. After Ukraine's President Zelensky said territory had been captured using just robots and drones, what is the future of unmanned warfare? Ukraine's president says Russia has "spurned the ceasefire" and Kyiv is deciding on further action to take.