May 11, 2025

One for the Books


One for the Books
A Russian color guard marches in front of soldiers, who stand in front of a sign plastered with World War II photos. YouTube, South China Morning Post

Forget the Super Bowl. The yearly event we anticipate for months, settling in with snacks and drinks and inviting our friends over to watch (they rarely show) is Victory Day.

Ok, not really.

But seriously, Russia's main patriotic holiday is an annual gathering of foreign dignitaries, thousands of soldiers from Russia's armed forces and international delegations, and modern and historic military hardware. The holiday celebrates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, a critical part of modern Russian ideology.

It's not just a chance to hear stirring patriotic tunes, watch octogenarian tanks tear up Red Square's pavement, and see intricate toy-soldier marches. It's a barometer, a check-in to see how Russia is doing and how it wants to present itself to the world.

We've found that the South China Morning Post has consistently outstanding coverage of the parade, likely with Kremlin backing. Check it out here.

After a parade in 2024 marred by poor weather, gaffes, and a disturbing lack of vehicles, this year's Victory Day celebration, held in Red Square in glorious May sunshine, went off without a hitch. It was the biggest and most extravagant parade in a decade. There was a lot to unpack.

First, the guest list. There were, of course, the usual suspects. These would be presidents of Central Eurasian nations like Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, which maintain a close relationship with Russia. There were also several African heads of state present, as well as a handful from countries like Nicaragua and Myanmar. And, of course, in the front row was Alexander Lukashenko, Putin's closest ally, who cheered like an unruly uncle when his country's troops marched past.

Then there were the spicier choices. South Ossetia, a Georgian breakaway state recognized only by five nations, was represented, as was Palestine. Notably, representatives of Slovakia and Serbia were in attendance; Slovakia is part of the EU, while Serbia is pursuing membership but also maintains close ties to Russia.

There was also Steven Seagal, the erstwhile American actor who has recently become a Putin mega-fan. See him at 1:54:03 in the stream.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was unquestionably the guest of honor. Xi sat right next to Putin during the celebrations; so close, in fact, that you can hear his translator speaking Chinese while Putin gave his speech in Russian. In addition, the largest international contingent of soldiers was a Chinese unit. These together make it appear that Russia and China are moving ever closer.

In total, there were reportedly more than twenty national leaders in attendance, the most in years. Plus one Steven Seagal.

After the parade began with characteristic pomp, Putin launched into his speech. He stood at a podium surrounded by guests and nestled underneath a massive pergola. The construction looked imposing and was decorated with myriad Second World War symbols. But it may have also served a practical purpose: the BBC speculated it was to protect VIPs from a possible attack by airborne drones.

Putin's speech was not terribly remarkable, except for a handful of phrases. One, Russia's War on Ukraine was mentioned only obliquely as the "Special Military Operation." Two, China's contribution to defeating Imperial Japan was nodded to (unsurprising, given Xi's presence). Three, the message was shot through with references to family and "narod," or "nation." This last idiom points to an understanding of statehood rooted in blood relations, part of Putin's international worldview.

Then came the parade itself. Here contrasts were on full display. Loose military fatigues and modern assault rifles marched right after recreated Soviet uniforms and PPSh-41s, which followed resplendent traditional military dress with gold braid and ceremonial arms. Adding to the clash were the myriad units from other countries, like Azerbaijani commandos, Sub-Saharan Africans in combat gear, and a Vietnamese battalion.

The vehicle portion of the parade was also full of contrast. T-34s led the way, as usual (in 2024, a single T-34 was the only tank of any kind present; this year, there were six). After them came World War II-era tank destroyers, then Cold War APCs, right up to modern MRAPs. Then T-72s and T-90s, Russia's main battle tanks. After some howitzers and artillery, nuclear missile trucks passed through the square, which is unusual for Victory Day and once again hints that Putin pulled out all the stops for this 80th anniversary.

But on Victory Day, what is absent is just as significant as what is present. No Ukrainian troops, of course; they marched in London this year. Also, despite way more military hardware, the most cutting-edge stuff like BMPT "Terminators" and brand-new T-14 tanks were nowhere to be found. And the planes for the final flyover, same as last year, were Su-25s, MiG-29s, and Su-30s, not the sleek, stealth Su-57s made to compete with America's F-22s and F-35s.

It seems the war in Ukraine is still the elephant in the room, as it was last year, when the lack of tanks and subdued panoply appeared to reflect a shoestring budget and stuttering military machine. New this year were drone-launching trucks, which reflected battlefield conditions in Ukraine. In addition, and subtly, many tanks had anti-drone netting around their turrets. They weren't as janky as some battlefield examples, but still... interesting.

That's why Victory Day is always a sight to behold. There's always a sideways reference, a bit of goofiness from the characters we know and love (looking at you, Lukashenko), and symbols galore. It's a tea-leaf-reading event. Just like how Sovietologists used to try to divine who was next in line by analyzing who stood where while watching parades, so now we get a glimpse into Putin's, and Russia's, state while seeing the best that Moscow can offer.

You Might Also Like

Victory (Kinda) on Display
  • June 02, 2024

Victory (Kinda) on Display

Russian diplomats recently perused a display of captured Western equipment brought from Ukraine to Moscow.
Snowing on Your Parade
  • May 12, 2024

Snowing on Your Parade

A few things were notably absent (and present) from this year's Victory Day parade.
70 Years After Victory, the Battle for Stalingrad Rages On
  • May 08, 2015

70 Years After Victory, the Battle for Stalingrad Rages On

The Battle for Stalingrad turned the tide of WWII in the Allies’ favor. Marked by the loss of nearly 2 million lives, it is one of the most devastating battles of human history. Yet it also continues to be embroiled in controversy, given the complex relationship Russians have toward Josef Stalin. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.
Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.
Chekhov Bilingual

Chekhov Bilingual

Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout. 
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955