Speech by Vladimir Putin during the commemorations of the end of World War II, in Moscow, on May 9, 2026. SHAMIL ZHUMATOV/AP
Vladimir Putin marked Russia's Victory Day for the fifth time since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, presiding over a military parade on Red Square, to commemorate the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany. As on every occasion since the launch of his "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Putin used the ceremony to further his propaganda: today, as in 1941-1945, Moscow is waging war in the name of a "just cause."
His speech drew thunderous cheers from soldiers in formation, including more than 1,000 fighters in combat gear who had come directly from the front. "The great feat of the victorious generation [against Adolf Hitler] inspires today's soldiers who are carrying out the 'special military operation.' They are facing an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc," Putin said in a speech even more combative than in 2025.
Surrounded by even more security than usual, Putin made no mention of the three-day truce that Kyiv had accepted the night before. Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory, including Moscow, have been relentless in recent weeks, threatening to disrupt the parade until the last moment. Moscow had warned of possible retaliatory attacks on central Kyiv.
