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As Moscow’s Victory Day parade nears, officials crack down on fireworks and throttle the Internet
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On May 9, Russia will mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. The centerpiece of the Victory Day holiday is a military parade on Moscow’s Red Square. This year, leaders from nearly 20 countries are expected to attend — and there are rumors that North Korean soldiers, who have been fighting alongside Russian troops, may march in the parade. But with the war in Ukraine grinding on, Russian officials seem increasingly on edge. President Vladimir Putin proposed a brief ceasefire during the holiday, but rejected Ukraine’s counteroffer of an immediate 30-day truce. Now, in the lead-up to the celebrations, Russian authorities are warning of possible Internet restrictions and urging people not to set off fireworks, citing security concerns. Here’s what we know so far about how the Kremlin is preparing to safeguard its show of military might.
With Victory Day celebrations fast approaching, the Russian authorities have warned that Internet access may be restricted in Moscow due to “security measures for upcoming holiday events.” Residents of the Moscow region received text alerts from Russia’s emergency alert system notifying them of the potential disruptions.
On the morning of May 5, Muscovites began reporting problems with cell service and Internet connectivity. Major telecom providers Beeline and MegaFon acknowledged the outages but said the issues were beyond their control. The disruptions coincided with a rehearsal for the aerial portion of the Victory Day parade.
A day earlier, Moscow police issued a statement demanding that residents refrain from using fireworks ahead of May 9, citing a rise in unspecified “provocations” involving pyrotechnics. Authorities warned that violators could face misdemeanor or even criminal charges.
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The parade, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II, is scheduled for the morning of May 9. Leaders from nearly 20 countries are expected to attend, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
In late April, the Kremlin announced that Russia would declare a ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8 to 10 and called on Ukraine to “follow this example.” Kyiv effectively rejected the offer, with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling it “another attempt at manipulation,” questioning why a ceasefire should be delayed more than a week, and saying that Putin was only interested in ensuring “silence for his parade.” Ukrainian officials have since repeatedly warned that holding the event may be “unsafe.”
Kyiv also proposed an immediate 30-day truce — something Russia rejected. In recent days, Ukrainian authorities have reiterated their willingness to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. The Kremlin has declined, instead presenting a list of additional demands. Whether Russia still plans to implement the May 8–10 ceasefire — initially promised regardless of Ukraine’s response — remains unclear. In any case, the Kremlin stated that if the Ukrainian side “violates” the ceasefire, Russian forces will deliver an “appropriate and effective response.”
North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war
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