Ceremony commemorating the defeat of the Nazis in World War II had a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine and was attended by North Korean troops
Russian President Vladimir Putin (United Russia) said that “Victory has always been and will be ours” during the Victory Day military parade held on Red Square, in Moscow, this Saturday (May 9, 2026). The ceremony celebrates the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. For the first time in almost 2 decades, the event did not include the display of tanks, missiles and other heavy military equipment.
The Kremlin announced a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine over celebrations of the event but a surprise attack from Kiev.
The Russian armed forces held the traditional parade with just columns of troops and a flyover of fighter jets. For the first time, the ceremony included North Korean troops, in recognition of the sending of North Korean soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region of Ukraine.
Russian authorities issued warnings that if Ukraine tried to disrupt Saturday’s festivities, Russia would carry out a “massive missile attack in the center of Kiev”. The Russian Defense Ministry warned the civilian population and members of foreign diplomatic missions about “the need to leave the city promptly”.
Watch the Victory Day military parade in Russia (9:11):
Putin saluted Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. “The key to success is our moral strength, courage and valor, our unity and ability to endure anything and overcome any challenge,” he stated. The Russian president said that military forces “they face an aggressive force that is armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)”.
“I firmly believe that our cause is just! We are together! Victory has always been and will always be ours”said Putin.
The Russian president said the country made a sacrifice for Europe’s freedom in World War II.
“Our soldiers suffered colossal losses, made a colossal sacrifice in the name of the freedom and dignity of the peoples of Europe, became the personification of courage and nobility, fortitude and humanity, and crowned themselves with the great glory of a grandiose victory”said the Russian leader.
TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
After Putin’s speech and the parade, world leaders laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Here is the list:
- President of the Republic of Abkhazia, Badra Gunba;
- President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko;
- President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev;
- President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thongloun Sisoulith;
- supreme sultan of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim;
- President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev;
- president of República da Ossétia do Sul, Alan Gagloyev;
- President of Serbia, Sinisa Karan;
- President of the National Assembly of the Serbian Republic, Nenad Stevandic;
According to Freedom Housewhich classifies countries and territories based on indicators of political rights and civil liberties, are classified as leaders of “unfree” countries — a category associated with autocratic regimes — Alexander Lukashenko (Belarus), Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Kazakhstan), Thongloun Sisoulith (Laos) and Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan).
Alexander Lukashenko (left), president of Belarus, and Vladimir Putin (right), president of Russia, at a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in Moscow
The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, attended the event, but did not participate in the flower delivery. The name of North Korea’s representative was not released.
RUSSIA IN WAR II
Victory Day marks the anniversary of the victory of what is called the Great Patriotic War by the Russians. In the West, the celebration is held earlier, on May 8 – the date on which the Germans officially signed their surrender. In Russia’s time zone, which is ahead of other European countries, the signing took place the following day.
The USSR played a decisive role in the events that culminated in the end of the 2nd World War and the German surrender. On April 16, 1945, the Red Army began to occupy Berlin – which officially fell on May 2 of the same year. The German surrender was signed 6 days later.
The Victory Day parade became a Soviet tradition, primarily as a demonstration of military power. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, celebrations were scaled back and gradually resumed in the following years.
