2025 Moscow Victory Day Parade


The 2025 Moscow Victory Day Parade was a military parade held in Red Square, Moscow, Russia, on 9 May 2025, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, which celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe.

Background

Victory Day is a significant secular holiday in Russia that commemorates Germany's surrender in World War II, which marked the end of the war in Europe. At least 26 million Soviet citizens lost their lives. Victory Day has been observed annually on 9 May since 1945, and it is one of the most revered and widely celebrated public holidays in Russia, with parades, fireworks, and concerts held across the country.
During the presidency of Vladimir Putin, Western observers and media have maintained that the holiday has been used for propaganda purposes, particularly since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Parade summary

For the first time since 2012, Sergei Shoigu did not greet the 11,500 troops on Red Square as Minister of Defence, as he was replaced on 12 May 2024 after the 2024 Victory Day Parade, with Andrey Belousov assuming the role, appearing in a civilian suit rather than military uniform. Thirteen foreign contingents participated in the parade, including troops from the Commonwealth of Independent States with Egypt, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam joining the procession for the first time. The mechanized column opened with the iconic WWII-era T-34 tank and SU-100 self-propelled gun, symbolizing Soviet victory. They were followed by a display of modern military hardware: BMP-2 and Kurganets-25 infantry fighting vehicles, T-72B3M, T-80BVM, and T-90M Proryv main battle tanks, reconnaissance vehicles, medical transports, and missile systems including the Iskander-M and S-400 air defense system. Notably, unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions such as the ZALA Lancet and Geran-2 drones were featured for the first time, highlighting the growing role of drone warfare. The parade concluded with a flyover by Su-30SM and MiG-29 fighter jets from the Russian Knights and Swifts aerobatic teams, followed by six Su-25 jets emitting plumes in the colors of the Russian tricolour. In a significant diplomatic gesture, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, became the first leader from an EU or NATO member state to attend the parade since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Putin's speech

In his Victory Day address, President Vladimir Putin emphasized Russia's role as the primary force behind the defeat of Germany, crediting the Soviet people with extraordinary heroism and sacrifice. He honored the memory of fallen soldiers and lauded the contributions of all Soviet republics, particularly highlighting the support from Central Asia and the South Caucasus during the war. He condemned modern attempts to distort the history of World War II, including efforts to downplay the Soviet Union's role or to rehabilitate Nazi collaborators. He criticized unnamed countries for erasing Soviet-era monuments and replacing them with memorials to what he called "traitors and Hitler's accomplices." He stated that Russia "will never agree" with the falsification of history or the slandering of the Red Army's legacy, and reaffirmed the need to preserve the truth and dignity of the Soviet war effort. Tying the legacy of the war to present-day events, Putin claimed that Russia's current military efforts are a continuation of the fight against Nazism and aggression. He asserted that the entire Russian society supports its soldiers and insisted that truth and justice are on Russia's side. He also warned of rising Russophobia and anti-Semitism, saying that Russia remains a global barrier against such ideologies. While acknowledging the contributions of the Allied nations, including the opening of the Second Front and the efforts of the Resistance and the Chinese people, Putin reiterated that the turning point of the war came on Soviet soil. He called on Russians to remain united, proud, and committed to their homeland, stating that the nation's strength lies in its unity, heritage, and values passed down by the wartime generation.

Foreign dignitaries in attendance

On 6 May, Yuri Ushakov, an aide to President Putin on foreign policy, announced a list of dignitaries who were to attend the parade, among whom were the leaders of 29 nations. Virtually all attended, including the leaders of most of the former Soviet republics, with the exceptions of the GUAM countries and the Baltic states. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev cancelled his visit on 7 May, as did President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.
On the evening of 8 May, Putin hosted an official dinner for foreign leaders present for the Victory Day parade.

Full order of the 2025 parade

Bold indicates first appearance, italic indicates multiple appearances, Bold and italic indicate returning appearance, all indicated unless otherwise noted.Andrey Belousov, Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation

Military bands

Infantry column

154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment Colour Guard1st Honour Guard Company of the 1st Honor Guard Battalion, 154th PICR Front standards and historical coloursHistorical units

Mobile column

T-34/85 medium tanksSU-100 tank destroyersTigr-M infantry mobility vehicle ZA-SpN "Titan" infantry mobility vehiclesTyphoon-K53949 "Phoenix" infantry mobility vehiclesLinza medical evacuation vehiclesBRM-1K reconnaissance vehicles BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles BMP-3M & Kurganets-25 infantry fighting vehicles T-72B3M main battle tanks T-80BVM main battle tanks T-90M "Proryv" main battle tanks 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers 2S44 Giatsint-K & 2S43 Malva self-propelled howitzersTornado-S multiple rocket launchersTOS-2 "Tosochka" heavy flamethrower systems9K720 Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile systems

Aerial column

Sukhoi Su-30 & Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters planes Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft

Music

Music was performed by the massed bands of the Moscow Garrison, commanded by Major general Timofey Mayakin.
Inspection of Troops
Speech by President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin
Infantry Column
  • Drum and Fife based on the theme from the March "General Miloradovich" by Valeriy Khalilov
  • Metropolitan March by Viktor Runov
  • Triumph of the Winners
  • March Cossacks in Berlin by the Pokrass Brothers
  • Salute to Moscow by Semyon Tchernetsky
  • Phalanx March by Dmitriy Pertsev
  • Moscow in May by the Pokrass Brothers
  • March of the Nakhimov Naval Cadets by Vasiliy Solovyov-Sedoy
  • Sports March by Valentin Volkov
  • On Guard for Peace by Boris Diyev
  • In Defense of the Motherland by Viktor Runov
  • Katyusha by Matvey Blanter
  • Air March by Yuriy Khayt
  • I Believe, My Friends by Oskar Fel'tsman
  • March The Sea is Calling by Aleksandra Pakhmutova
  • March of the Artillerymen by Tikhon Khrennikov
  • We Need One Victory by Bulat Okudzhava
  • March Leningrad by Viktor Runov
  • March Parade by Semyon Tchernetsky
  • Song of the Perturbed Youth by Aleksandra Pakhmutova
  • To Serve Russia by Eduard Khanok
  • March Cossacks in Berlin by the Pokrass Brothers
  • Let's Go by Vasiliy Solovyov-Sedoy
  • Drum and Fife based on the theme from the March "General Miloradovich" by Valeriy Khalilov
Mobile and Air Column
Conclusion of the Parade
Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
  • Eternal Flame by Rafail Khozak
  • Adagio by Valeriy Khalilov
  • State Anthem of the Russian Federation by Aleksandr Aleksandrov
  • Silence by Lev Gurov
  • The Sacred War by Aleksandr Aleksandrov
  • Flagship March by Aleksandr Rozenbaum
  • We Need One Victory by Bulat Okudzhava
  • Ballad of a Soldier by Mikhail Matusovskiy

Announced ceasefire

Before the parade, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire during the Russo-Ukrainian war. Putin wanted the announced ceasefire to last only three days, from 8 to 11 May, and rejected a proposal of having a ceasefire for 30 days. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Putin's proposal and reiterated his support for an earlier proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.
During the ceasefire announced by Russia, the Russian forces continued the attacks on Ukraine. Ukrainian drone attacks forced Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow to repeatedly suspend operations, forcing Serbian President Vučić's flight to make a stopover in Azerbaijan. Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned "the Kyiv regime" and "its propensity for terrorist acts". President Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine "cannot be responsible for what happens" in Russia due to the war in Ukraine, and won't be "playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putin's exit from isolation on May 9."