Putin security tightened for Victory Day events amid Ukrainian threat
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 7
Putin security tightened for Victory Day events amid Ukrainian threat
9 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 7
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said extra measures will protect Putin at Moscow's May 9 Red Square parade after Russia reported 32 drones heading towards the capital on Thursday.
Peskov rejected Western media reports that heightened protection reflected coup or assassination fears, saying security is routinely increased before major holidays but is especially necessary this year.
Russia has slimmed down the parade, warned of massive retaliation for any attack on Kyiv, and announced a May 8-9 ceasefire that Ukraine did not jointly agree.
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In May 2026, Russia faces a severe security crisis as Ukraine's advanced drone strikes penetrate deep into Moscow, prompting the Kremlin to impose unprecedented security measures including massive air defense deployments, communication blackouts, and a drastically scaled-back Victory Day parade. These external threats coincide with internal instability marked by high-profile assassinations and distrust within Russia's security services, leading to extreme protective protocols around President Putin, who now resides mostly in fortified bunkers under constant surveillance. Despite a temporary ceasefire during the celebrations, the conflict remains a stalemate, with Russia's economy strained and global perceptions shifting toward viewing it as vulnerable, while Ukraine's resilience grows through sustained Western support.