The Victory Parade in Moscow set an anti-record both in terms of the number of military vehicles and weather conditions: it snowed in the Russian capital for the first time in many years.
9 thousand people took part in Putin's Victory Parade - more than last year, but less than in 2022. 61 armored vehicles drove across Red Square, which is also less than in previous years. Fifteen combat airplanes flew over the square, which is the lowest number ever. For the first time, the parade was attended by "heroes of the war in Ukraine".
Before the action began, dictator Putin made his traditional speech, in which he addressed not only the history of World War II but also relations with the West. This year there was less aggressive rhetoric. The Kremlin boss accused the West of "exorbitant ambitions," "seeking to justify modern followers of Nazism," and attempts to distort "the truth about the war."
In addition, the dictator, in a burst of bipolarity, noted the merits of the Second Front and the "inspiring traditions of alliance," despite previous accusations against Europe, which he said had contributed to the Wehrmacht's military strength.
A single T-34 tank, a symbol of World War II, led the column of vehicles at the parade. It was followed by modern BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, Tiger, VPK-Ural, and Linza armored vehicles, Iskander missile systems, S-400 systems, and Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Since 2015, May 9 parades have traditionally featured "advanced" military equipment, including the T-14 Armata tank, which no one has ever seen at the front despite the propagandists' threats. However, for the second year under Red Square is present only BMP "Boomerang". Before the war in Ukraine, the Boomerangs symbolized the "revival of the Russian army's power", but they were never put into mass production.
The reason for the absence of older tanks such as the T-72, T-80, and T-90 at the parade could most likely be a shortage of armored vehicles at the front.
