Putin Claims ‘Victory’ at Diminished Red Square Parade Featuring North Korean Troops

Vladimir Putin delivered a defiant speech at Moscow’s Victory Day parade on Saturday, May 9, claiming Russia would “win” its war against Ukraine despite a wave of successful Ukrainian strikes deep behind Russian lines. The parade was a significantly scaled-back 45-minute event, featuring no military hardware for the first time in nearly two decades and restricted by mobile internet shutdowns. Notably, a column of North Korean troops who previously fought in Russia’s Kursk region marched through Red Square. Make us preferred on Google Flip Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Russian President Vladimir Putin and foreign leaders attend a ceremony to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall in central Moscow on May 9, 2026. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Russian dictator Vladimir Putin used his Victory Day speech in Moscow on Saturday, May 9, to claim that Russia would emerge victorious in its war against Ukraine, despite ongoing setbacks and Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory, BBC reported. During the speech, Putin repeated long-standing propaganda, asserting that Russia is fighting a broader conflict against the entire NATO bloc. He also offered thanks to all those participating in the invasion on Russia’s side. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today,” Putin said in his address, referring to the Ukraine war, according to AFP. The 2026 parade was marked by several historic anomalies and extreme security measures. For the first time since 2007, the parade featured no military hardware, consisting only of marching units. In a first for Red Square, according to Telegramm channel, a separate column of North Korean troops – who had previously seen combat in the Kursk region – participated in the march. Before the event began, authorities disabled mobile internet and restricted SMS services in central Moscow. The entire event lasted only 45 minutes. The parade was commanded by Andrei Mordvichev, known for his role in the siege of Mariupol, and reviewed by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. International attendance remained sparse, with only a few foreign guests present, including Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko , Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim, and Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith. Other Topics of Interest Russia Strikes Ukraine With Drones, Missile Amid Ceasefire Uncertainty Russia launched a ballistic missile and 43 strike drones against Ukraine, hitting six locations and causing civilian deaths. In the Chernihiv region, a father and son were killed during a drone strike on an agricultural enterprise. The attack occurred as a US-mediated three-day ceasefire was scheduled to begin. While the Air Force confirmed the timing of the strikes, it remained unclear if the bombardment continued after the midnight start of the truce, which was tied to a large-scale prisoner exchange and Victory Day events. A humanitarian gesture from Kyiv The parade took place in a city that remained uncharacteristically safe from Ukrainian drone threats due to a specific humanitarian gesture from Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a formal decree on Friday excluding Red Square from Ukraine’s list of military targets for the duration of the event . The restriction, which began at 10 a.m. Kyiv time, established a specific geographic “no-strike zone” to facilitate broader diplomatic efforts. Ukrainian officials clarified that the decision was driven by humanitarian considerations, specifically an agreement to carry out a large-scale exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war . Zelensky maintained that the safety of Ukrainian POWs returned in the swap was a higher priority than striking the Russian capital during the holiday. While the ceasefire and exchange agreement signaled a rare moment of cooperation, the situation on the front lines remains tense as Putin continues to frame the invasion as a fight for Russian survival. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.