Moscow's annual Victory Day parade, commemorating the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, drew a notably subdued response from Russians this year. Many expressed frustration over internet outages and growing fatigue with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, now in its fifth year.
Scaled-Back Celebrations
The parade was significantly reduced in scale compared to previous years. For the first time in nearly two decades, no military hardware was displayed, and only a handful of foreign dignitaries attended. Authorities throttled mobile internet access ahead of the commemorations in an attempt to prevent Ukrainian drone strikes, while security around the capital was heavily tightened.
Public Sentiment
When asked about her feelings on Victory Day, 36-year-old economist Elena responded simply: "Nothing." She added, "I need the internet, and I don't have it," stating she would not watch the parade. Another visitor, Oksana, was seen navigating Moscow using a screenshot of a map she had taken earlier due to the lack of internet access.
Tatyana Travina, a 55-year-old lawyer from the western city of Yelets, said she would watch the parade but acknowledged it was "very modest" compared to other years. She called for an end to the fighting in Ukraine: "It's time to use common sense and for a ceasefire. People are suffering on both sides. A ceasefire is needed... But not just a ceasefire, we need peace."
War and Ceasefire
Now in its fifth year, the Ukraine war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and become Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II. Both Moscow and Kyiv agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire starting May 9, announced by US President Donald Trump. However, Moscow had threatened a "massive" strike on central Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted the holiday, which has become Russia's most important under President Vladimir Putin.
US-mediated talks to end the fighting have shown little progress and have been sidelined by the US-Israeli war launched against Iran in late February. Domestically, concerns have mounted as the economy slows and inflation runs above target.
Putin's Rallying Call
At the parade, Putin issued a rallying call, telling Russians that soldiers in Ukraine were fighting an "aggressive force" backed by all of NATO. He described his war goals as "just," invoking the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany to rally support for the military. Some Russians, like 82-year-old Lidia, expressed delight: "I have good feelings about Victory Day because my mother fought, my uncles fought." World War II claimed an estimated 27 million lives across the USSR.
