Russia’s Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square lasted around 45 minutes on May 9, making it the shortest military parade held in modern Russian history.
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The ceremony was nearly half the length of the 2025 anniversary parade, which lasted approximately 90 minutes. Most Russian Victory Day parades since 2010 have exceeded one hour in duration.
According to The Moscow Times, the 2026 event was also the first parade in 19 years to take place without military vehicles moving through Red Square. Instead of tanks, missile launchers, and armored vehicles, the event featured marching formations only.
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov attends the Victory Day military parade on Red Square in Moscow on May 9, 2026. (Source: Getty Images)
The broadcast replaced the traditional live display of military hardware with pre-recorded footage showing drones, nuclear weapons systems, and what Russian state media described as “examples of the latest Russian military equipment.” The video presentation included Russia’s nuclear-powered submarines Arkhangelsk and Knyaz Vladimir.
Russian media reports noted that the 2026 parade was shorter than similar events held in recent years. The 2024 parade lasted slightly more than 50 minutes, while the 2023 ceremony ran for approximately 47 minutes.
The only other shortened event in recent years was the 2017 parade, which was reduced to about 50 minutes due to weather conditions that prevented the aerial portion of the program.
Russian servicemen involved in the war against Ukraine march during the Victory Day parade on Red Square in Moscow on May 9, 2026. (Source: Igor Ivanko / AFP via Getty Images)
Members of the Russian State Duma and government officials were also absent from the main viewing stands this year. Russian leader Vladimir Putin was accompanied primarily by members of Russia’s Security Council, including senior security officials and parliamentary leaders Valentina Matvienko and Vyacheslav Volodin.
Russian outlets reported that more than 1,000 Russian servicemen who fought in the war against Ukraine participated in the parade. Soldiers from North Korea also appeared in a separate formation for the first time.
During his speech on Red Square, Putin stated that Russian forces fighting in Ukraine are “inspired by Soviet soldiers” from World War II.
US President Donald Trump said on May 8 that Russia and Ukraine would observe a three-day ceasefire on May 9, 10, and 11 and conduct a “1000-for-1000” prisoner exchange. Zelenskyy later confirmed preparations for the exchange and stated that Ukraine would respond “symmetrically” if Russia violated the ceasefire.