President Vladimir Putin has led Russia’s Victory Day commemorations with a parade in Red Square and heightened security after days of Ukrainian strikes targeting the capital.
China’s Xi Jinping joined Putin as Russia showcased the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone for the first time during the annual military parade.
🇷🇺🇨🇳Putin & Xi spotted chatting during Victory Day parade in Moscow
What do you think they said? pic.twitter.com/2F0dTkoING
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) May 9, 2025
Russia has always been an “impenetrable barrier” to Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism, and will continue to fight against them, Putin has said, addressing the parade.
This year’s event marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“Russia has been and will remain an impenetrable barrier to Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism,” Putin stated, as quoted by Russia Today (RT).
“We will continue to fight the atrocities committed by those who promote these destructive ideas. Truth and justice are on our side,” he added.
The Russian strongman went on to say that the entire country supports the troops taking part in the military operation against the Kiev regime, which Moscow has long accused of adhering to Nazi ideology.
Putin noted that Russia remembers the lessons of World War II, and will not allow the atrocities committed during those years to be repeated.
“We are all united by feelings of joy and sorrow, pride and gratitude, admiration for the generation that defeated Nazism at the cost of millions of lives and won freedom and peace for all mankind,” he stated.
“We faithfully preserve the memory of these triumphant events and, like our ancestors, celebrate the holiday as our own – the most important for the entire nation.”
Iranian Drones
Meanwhile, a column of trucks carrying various combat drones took part in the Victory Day parade for the first time, apparently because of their wide scale use in Ukraine.
According to Russia’s state broadcaster Channel One, drones on display included the Iranian-designed Shahed-136—renamed “Geran-2” in Russia—and the domestically produced Lancet drone. These unmanned aerial vehicles have played a critical role in Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.
Russian drones slow down for the Red Square Victory Day parade — showcasing Moscow’s aerial firepower pic.twitter.com/23JGeaXVfy
— RT (@RT_com) May 9, 2025
The Geran-2, a loitering munition originally developed in Iran, has been deployed to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Situation with Ukraine
A unilateral, three-day ceasefire was announced by Russia to coincide with the lavish 80th anniversary event, which Ukraine rejected as a “theatrical show”.
Kyiv has labelled the truce as a farce, accusing Russia of launching thousands of attacks since it came into force at midnight on Wednesday. Russia says it has observed the ceasefire and accuses Ukraine of hundreds of violations.
In the hours before the ceasefire, Ukrainian drone strikes prompted airport closures and disruption for thousands of air passengers in Russia.
Heavy security and restrictions were in place in the center of Moscow on Friday as Russia marked the victory over Nazi Germany.
Source: Agencies
