Russia's Victory Day parade returns for its 35th iteration on Saturday, 9 May. But 12 months after 11,500 troops marched through Moscow's Red Square to a cacophony of trumpets blaring, fighter jets screaming and canons blasting, this year's iteration is expected to be significantly stripped of most of its pomp – and steeped in paranoia.
Russia's defence ministry stated at the end of April no heavy military equipment will be displayed as part of the event “due to current operational situation”. Many interpret this as anxieties of Ukrainian long-range drone attacks on the capital. Days after the announcement, a Ukrainian drone hit and blasted the façade of an upmarket high-rise in the capital 7-kilometres from Red Square, marking the third day of such attacks.
