Kremlin says military equipment will not be shown at 9 May parade 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 the date is not an anniversary year. 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 large-scale as it marked an anniversary, while this year is not, so the event will be held in a "reduced format".

In addition, Fontanka reported that the parade on Palace Square in St Petersburg will also be held without military equipment and without the participation of cadets.

The number of spectators will be 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 without the participation of cadets from military academies due to the "current situation".

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