Guardian: Russia holds Victory Day parade without military equipment due to fears of Ukrainian attacks

Russia's annual Victory Day parade will be held on May 9 without military equipment, for the first time in almost two decades, due to fears of a long-range attack by Ukrainian drones, the British newspaper The Guardian reports.

The Defense Ministry announced that no armored vehicles or missile systems will march during the parade on Red Square, marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, citing the "current operational situation."

They added that cadets from military schools and youth military institutions will not participate in the parade.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the reason for the changes to the annual parade was "Ukrainian terrorist activities."

Russian military bloggers and analysts say Moscow fears that Ukrainian long-range drones could target military equipment before or during the parade.

Ruslan Leviev, an independent analyst, told TV Rain: "The equipment is vulnerable even during preparations, while the columns are parked and trained outside Moscow, on open training grounds that are easy to hit with drones. Hitting soldiers in the city center, among tourists, would not be so easy."

Since the beginning of Moscow's all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Victory Day parades have been more modest, with reduced military displays and fewer foreign guests.

Last year's 80th anniversary celebration was a notable exception, with at least 27 foreign heads of state in attendance and a full parade of tanks, rocket launchers and drones passing through Red Square.

During Putin's more than two and a half decades in power, Victory Day has become a cornerstone of his vision of Russian identity. However, since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine, the Kremlin's propaganda machine has given it a new meaning, with Putin using the celebrations to justify the conflict, writes The Guardian.

Ukrainian long-range drones continue to target Russian territory almost daily. The attacks are mainly aimed at industrial and military facilities, including oil infrastructure and logistics hubs, sometimes causing large fires and civilian evacuations.

In the southern Russian city of Tuapse, repeated drone attacks on a major oil refinery have sparked huge fires, blanketing the city in toxic black rain and forcing authorities to advise residents to stay indoors.

During the night, Ukrainian combat drones also hit an oil pumping station in Russia's Perm region, deep in the Urals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday praised the "precision" of the Security Service of Ukraine, saying that targets were hit from a distance of more than 930 miles, or 1.500 kilometers. "We will continue to increase these ranges," he wrote on the X network, adding that each attack is aimed at reducing Russia's military industry, logistics and oil exports.

Analysts warn that the economic impact of the attacks should not be overstated. Rising oil prices, fueled by the conflict in the Middle East, have kept Russia's energy revenues high in recent months, allowing Moscow to rake in billions even as some of its refineries are targeted.