Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Putin has reportedly grouped up over 40 air defence systems around the Russian capital ahead of the parade.
Saturday, May 9, marks the Russian national holiday Victory Day.
It is an annual event during which Russia celebrates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, and the occasion usually features large parades showcasing the might of the Russian military, especially in Moscow.
However, as Russia continues to struggle after more than four years of war in Ukraine, this year’s celebrations have been scaled back significantly.
The Russian Ministry of Defence has confirmed that no armored vehicles will appear in the parade in Moscow, and several parades across Russia have been canceled.
Additionally, Putin has ordered a unilateral ceasefire effective May 8 and 9 — a proposal that Ukraine had not formally received at the beginning of this week, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
There are also signs that Putin is not confident Ukraine will refrain from using the Victory Day parade to send a message.
Over 40 air defense systems
The German outlet Bild reported on May 6 that Russia has positioned no fewer than 43 additional Pantsir-S1 air defense systems around the Russian capital ahead of Victory Day.
Moscow has also issued a threat against Kyiv, warning that any disruption of the Victory Day celebrations will be met with a devastating strike on the Ukrainian capital — a threat that analysts and some pro-Kremlin bloggers see as a sign of weakness, as it suggests little confidence in the effectiveness of Russian air defenses.
Now, Ukraine’s president has stated that the Russian celebrations on Saturday are effectively in Ukraine’s hands.
“It is time to end this”
According to his nightly address, Kyiv offered a “clear proposal” for diplomacy, but Russian forces responded with heavier fire instead.
The proposal was issued on May 4, when Zelenskyy suggested a truce beginning on the night before May 6 — a truce that Russia allegedly broke just minutes after it began.
Zelenskyy explained the shifting dynamics on the battlefield.
“Russia has fought to the point where even their main parade already depends on us,” he noted, adding, “And this is a clear signal: it is time to end this.”
Thousands of strikes
The battlefield numbers tell a grim story. Ukrainian officials tracked more than 1,800 separate attacks hitting regions stretching from Kharkiv and Donetsk all the way down to Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
“Russia has not stopped any type of its military activity,” Zelenskyy stated bluntly.
Now, Kyiv is changing its stance. Zelenskyy warned that his military would deliver “mirror-like” and “fully justified responses” depending on how events unfold heading into May 7.
Sources: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service, Russian state media, Bild
