Moscow’s May 9 Victory Day ceremony arrived stripped of its usual firepower. Heavy police cordons guarded Red Square while long‑range drones and missile attacks from Ukraine kept the capital on edge. For the first time since the Soviet triumph, the procession featured only cadets from Russian military academies, omitting tanks, missile launchers and other heavy equipment. Officials said the cuts protect the president and citizens.

The pared‑down display reflects mounting pressure on President Putin as Ukrainian strikes have rattled the city and forced a decree to block mobile internet, a move officials say thwarts drone guidance. Russia’s war‑driven economy, which surged after the 2022 invasion, now contracts and its budget deficit has swollen to a record high, still deepening, eroding public confidence.

Analysts cite the subdued parade as evidence that Moscow can no longer shield itself from the war’s fallout. Senior fellow Tatiana Stanovaya notes a growing “fed‑up” mood among elites, while political commentator Ilya Grashchenkov warns the leadership may contemplate a permanent war footing akin to Iran or North Korea. The spectacle’s shrinkage plainly signals a weakened domestic grip on power.