BERLIN, May 9 — Moscow is set to mark Victory Day on Saturday with its traditional military parade, but the celebrations are expected to take place under heightened security and a subdued atmosphere, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
Soldiers and cadets will march past Russian President Vladimir Putin as Russia commemorates the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
However, the usual display of heavy military equipment has reportedly been scaled back due to concerns over possible Ukrainian drone attacks.
The Kremlin also withdrew invitations to foreign journalists at short notice. Only a few foreign dignitaries are expected, including Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the only EU leader present in Moscow, though he is not due to attend the parade itself.
Authorities have also imposed restrictions in the capital, including mobile internet blackouts in Moscow and other cities.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump said Ukraine and Russia had agreed to a three-day ceasefire from Saturday to Monday at his request. The statement followed days of conflicting and overlapping ceasefire announcements by the two sides.
Russia had previously declared a unilateral ceasefire that coincided with the Victory Day events. Ukraine responded with a unilateral truce beginning May 6, but later withdrew it after it said Russia had continued with its attacks, including one of its largest drone strikes so far in the conflict.
Victory Day in Russia is celebrated on May 9 because the German Wehrmacht’s surrender in 1945 was signed late on May 8 in Berlin, when it was already past midnight in Moscow.
