Russia commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany with a grand military parade in Moscow on Friday, drawing the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and dozens of other world leaders, even as the war in Ukraine lingered in the backdrop.
President Vladimir Putin, now the longest-serving Russian leader since Stalin, stood alongside Xi and veterans at Red Square’s iconic tribune near Lenin’s Mausoleum. As thousands of troops marched by, Putin hailed the Soviet Union’s immense sacrifices during World War II, insisting its role in defeating Adolf Hitler should never be undermined.
“The Soviet Union took upon itself the most ferocious, merciless blows of the enemy,” Putin declared. “We highly appreciate the contribution of the soldiers of the Allied armies, the members of the resistance, the courageous people of China, and all those who fought for a peaceful future to our common struggle.”
Putin refrained from criticising the West directly and made only brief references to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has entered its third year and become the deadliest war in Europe since World War II.
The Victory Day parade featured over 11,500 troops, including 1,500 who have fought in Ukraine. Russia displayed its most powerful military hardware, including tanks, drones—used extensively in the Ukraine conflict—and intercontinental Yars missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Despite several Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow earlier this week, the event proceeded without disruption, following a 72-hour ceasefire declared by Putin. The Kremlin said the truce helped maintain the sanctity of the day, which remains the most sacred in Russia’s calendar.
Victory Day marks the Soviet capture of Berlin and the end of Nazi Germany’s rule. While the Allied powers celebrate the occasion on May 8, Moscow observes it on May 9, commemorating the moment the Nazi surrender took effect in Russian time.
The Soviet Union lost approximately 27 million people during the war, including many in modern-day Ukraine. China also suffered heavily in the 1937-1945 Second Sino-Japanese War, with Communist Party historians citing 35 million casualties and highlighting tragedies like the Nanjing Massacre.
Chinese troops joined the Red Square parade, as did North Korean officers, whom Putin personally greeted, commending their role in aiding Russian defences in western Kursk amid Ukrainian attacks.
The presence of leaders from China, Brazil, North Korea, and several former Soviet and African nations was used by the Kremlin to underline that Russia remains globally engaged, even as Western allies of World War II chose to stay away.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his call for peace, proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. He warned that non-compliance would result in additional sanctions from Washington and its partners.
Separately, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia “will not be reacting” to Ukraine’s announcement that a special tribunal to prosecute Russian officials for war crimes will soon be established.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry revealed that more than 40 countries had joined efforts to create the tribunal, which is set to be formalised at the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on May 13-14.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin launched the full-scale invasion in 2022 due to impunity for past conflicts. “Russia must be held accountable for its aggression just as the Nazis were,” he stated, calling for complete EU backing of the tribunal.
As Russia leans on history to fuel patriotism at home, the global community’s focus continues to shift toward accountability for the war unfolding in Europe today.
