Kremlin says 9 May parade will not feature military equipment due to "terrorist threats"

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that the Victory Day parade on 9 May in Moscow will be held in a "reduced format" due to terrorist threats and because this year is not a major anniversary. The parade in St Petersburg will also take place without military equipment. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May – ed.]

Source: Peskov in a comment to Russian media outlets, as reported by Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza; Fontanka, a local media outlet in St Petersburg

Details: Peskov said the reason for scaling down the parade is the "operational situation".

Quote: "The Kyiv regime [as the Russians refer to the Ukrainian authorities – ed.], which is losing territory on the battlefield every day, has now fully deployed terrorist activity. And therefore, against the backdrop of this terrorist threat, of course, all measures are being taken to minimise the danger."

Details: Peskov said last year's parade was particularly large in scale because it was a milestone anniversary, but this year is not, so the event will be held in a "reduced format".

In addition, Fontanka has reported that the parade in Palace Square in St Petersburg will also be held without military equipment and cadets will not take part.

The number of spectators has been reduced by about 18 times. Instead of the originally planned 5,600 guests, there will be only one stand with approximately 300 seats.

The decision was taken following a security meeting.

Background: On 28 April, the Russian Ministry of Defence said that the 9 May parade in Moscow will be held without military equipment and cadets from military academies will not take part due to the "current situation".

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