Moscow military parade could prove to be requiem for Putin’s Ukraine ambitions

Russia's president Vladimir Putin attends the Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square on May 9th along with senior officers. Photograph: Vyacheslav Prokofyev/AFP/Getty Rajan MenonFri May 15 2026 - 07:43 • 4 MIN READOn May 9th, Russia held its iconic annual Victory Day parade to honour the sacrifices of its soldiers and civilians during its four-year war against Nazi Germany. When the president, Vladimir Putin, invaded Ukraine on February 24th, 2022, he didn’t anticipate a fight that would last longer than the Red Army’s epic struggle against the Wehrmacht.

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Moscow military parade could prove to be requiem for Putin’s Ukraine ambitions

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