Russia holds scaled-down Victory Day parade as temporary ceasefire takes effect

In Russia, on 9 May 2026, Moscow held a scaled-down Victory Day parade on Red Square under tight security, as a temporary ceasefire in the Ukraine war took effect. Bloomberg wrote that the parade followed a truce brokered by Trump. The parade had no tanks or other heavy military hardware; Putin said this was due to security and the focus on the special operation. North Korean troops marched in the parade for the first time, Yonhap reported.

In his speech Putin said Russia faces aggression backed by NATO and that Russia's cause is just. Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine was not honouring the ceasefire, while Russian military leaders said their troops were strictly observing it. Kyiv Post reported that Russia had set up a ring of more than 100 air defence batteries around Moscow.