North Korean troops march in Russia's scaled-back Victory Day parade
Updated
Updated · NBC News · May 9
North Korean troops march in Russia's scaled-back Victory Day parade
13 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 9
In Moscow's Red Square, the shortened event featured little hardware, tight security around Vladimir Putin and officers from Russia's newly established drone forces.
Russia reduced the parade over the operational situation and fears of Ukrainian drone strikes, though a US-led three-day ceasefire and Zelenskyy's assurances helped the event proceed.
The debut highlighted Moscow's deepening ties with Pyongyang, while cancellations and cutbacks in other Russian cities underscored security strains and the war's pressure on Russia's military image.
With Moscow’s parade showing unprecedented fear, are North Korean soldiers now propping up Russia's war effort?
Has Ukraine’s drone warfare driven Putin into a bunker and permanently changed how wars are fought?
A Clipped 2026 Victory Day Parade: North Korea Joins Russia in a New Era of Geopolitical Tension
Overview
The 2026 Victory Day Parade in Moscow was a scaled-back event, lasting only 45 minutes and ending with an aerial display by Russian jets, with no heavy ground military hardware shown. President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation, linking Russian troops in Ukraine to the legacy of Soviet soldiers and promising victory against NATO. The parade’s reduced scale reflected Russia’s current challenges, including security concerns and a tense domestic atmosphere. This year’s event marked a shift in tradition, highlighting both Russia’s vulnerability and its efforts to project strength amid ongoing conflict and international scrutiny.