Moscow hosts Victory Day parade under strict security measures

Russia held its annual Victory Day parade on Red Square to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, with President Vladimir Putin presiding over the event. The ceremony featured an address by Putin, who praised Russian troops currently fighting in Ukraine and claimed the country is facing an aggressive NATO-backed force. This year's event notably excluded tanks and heavy weapons, continuing a trend of reduced displays of heavy military hardware. The Kremlin implemented significantly heightened security measures citing the risk of Ukrainian attacks, though officials denied Western intelligence reports claiming the precautions were linked to fears of internal coups. The parade was attended by several foreign leaders, including Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, and the President of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith. Reports also noted the participation of North Korean soldiers in the event. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Western media claims regarding internal security threats to the Russian president.