More than 20 Russian cities cancel Victory Day parades

At least 21 Russian cities have canceled military parades marking the victory in World War II, following a series of recent UAV attacks.

Russian cities bordering Ukraine, which have faced repeated shelling and drone attacks since the outbreak of hostilities, will not hold Victory Day parades on May 9, Vyorstka news agency reported today.

Parades have also been canceled in the Siberian regions of Tyumen, Nizhnevartovsk, Surgut, as well as the Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous region. Security concerns have been reported in at least eight cities, including Tyumen.

The northwestern cities of Pskov and Velikiye Luki, near the Estonian border, also decided to cancel the celebrations for "moral" reasons, saying the sound of fireworks could scare wounded soldiers being treated in hospitals in the region.

The ammunition carrier and launcher of the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system during a military parade at Red Square, Moscow, Russia in May 2022. Photo: Reuters

This year, Moscow authorities closed Red Square to the public for two weeks ahead of the parade, an unprecedented move. The Belgorod and Kursk regions in western Russia, as well as the Crimean peninsula, were the first to cancel the Victory Day parade, announcing the decision last month.

Moscow, St. Petersburg and surrounding areas imposed no-fly zones this week amid a series of drone attacks that Russia blames on Ukraine targeting the Kremlin and transport and energy infrastructure. Kiev denies the allegations.

Russia marks Victory Day every year on May 9 with military parades in many cities, centered on a parade in Red Square attended by President Vladimir Putin. This year’s celebration comes as Ukraine is expected to launch a long-anticipated large-scale counteroffensive.

Huyen Le (According to Moscow Times )

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