Fri May 09 14:43:59 UTC 2025: ## Putin Hosts Lavish Victory Day Parade Amidst Ukraine War

**Moscow, May 9, 2025** – Russia marked the 80th anniversary of Victory Day with a massive military parade in Red Square, showcasing its military might and attracting a significant number of international leaders, the largest gathering in a decade. President Vladimir Putin presided over the event, which featured over 11,500 troops, 180 military vehicles, including those used in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and a display of Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles. The presence of leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Lula da Silva highlights Putin’s efforts to counter Western isolation.

The parade, described as the largest since the invasion of Ukraine, served as a powerful display of Russian strength and a counterpoint to the ongoing war. Putin used his address to praise Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, further linking the Victory Day celebrations to the ongoing conflict. Analysts like Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre noted the event underscores Russia’s attempts to project itself as a major global power and portray itself as not isolated from the international community.

However, the celebrations were overshadowed by ongoing tensions. Ukrainian drone attacks targeted Moscow, leading to flight cancellations and heightened security measures. Simultaneously, Ukrainian authorities reported Russian strikes that resulted in casualties in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. These events occurred as a meeting of European officials in Lviv, Ukraine, focused on establishing a special tribunal to prosecute Russian officials for alleged war crimes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need for accountability, while European officials reaffirmed their commitment to sanctions against Russia. The juxtaposition of the opulent Moscow parade with the ongoing conflict and international efforts to hold Russia accountable paints a complex picture of the current geopolitical landscape.

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