This year’s “Victory Day” parade on Red Square in Moscow became another indication of the depletion of Russia’s military resources and the growing fear of Ukrainian drones.
The UK Ministry of Defence reported this on X, citing intelligence assessments.
British intelligence assessed that the May 9 parade in the Russian capital was held in a restrained atmosphere compared to previous years. Russian authorities officially explained the absence of armored vehicles and missile systems by referring to the “current operational situation.”
“The reduced scale of the parade is likely connected to the threat posed by Ukrainian drones and the shortage of military equipment caused by the war in Ukraine,” British intelligence analysts believe.
They also noted a significant reduction in the number of foreign guests attending the parade. This year, only five leaders of internationally recognized states were present, compared to more than 50 heads of state in 2005, around 30 in 2015, and 27 in 2025. No leader of a major world power attended the events in Moscow this year.
In addition, large-scale disruptions to mobile internet services were recorded in Moscow ahead of the parade. According to British intelligence, these outages were part of measures aimed at countering drone attacks. The report states that the shutdowns also significantly affected economic activity in the Russian capital.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s speech, according to British intelligence, repeated the Kremlin’s traditional propaganda narratives about a “just struggle against NATO” and promises of an “inevitable victory,” despite the fact that the war in Ukraine has now lasted more than four years.
Scaled-down celebrations were also observed in other Russian cities. In some regions, military parades were effectively replaced by marches of kindergarten-age children dressed in military uniforms.
“It is highly likely that the restrained nature of the parade creates an impression of weakness within the aging leadership, which is uncertain how to adequately counter the threat posed by Ukrainian drones,” the report states.
