On the anniversary of its victory over Nazism, Russia today presented a Spartan military parade that lacked many advanced weapons and tanks, and it did not include an air show either. What is the actual reason behind that?
On the seventy-eighth anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, the advanced tanks and aircraft that the Kremlin usually displays in the traditional military parade on the day called “Victory Day” were absent from the official celebrations in the capital, Moscow.
It is customary for Russia in this annual parade to flex its muscles and display its latest and most powerful weapons and military equipment, but this year’s parade in Moscow’s Red Square was not absent from the air show with modern fighters in the sky of the Russian capital, but rather came – along with some armored vehicles – only a tank. Only one historical T-34 was used in World War II.
During the past years, air shows during the May 9 celebrations were sometimes canceled due to bad weather, but the weather in Moscow this year was sunny and clear, and despite this, Russian fighters did not fly over Red Square.
“we are upset”
Combat tanks were also absent from the show, which in past years witnessed a display of the latest models of Armata or T-14 combat tanks, which this year were completely absent from the scene. In April, Russian media reported that the Russian army had used the Armata tank for the first time in the war against Ukraine.
“It’s weak, there are no tanks,” says Yelena Orlova, a Muscovite who saw armored vehicles driving down Novy Arbat from Red Square. Orlova continued, “We are upset. But, it’s okay, it will be better in the future.”
austerity to hide lower capacity
In addition, the Associated Press noted that the parade ended in less than an hour. According to observers, Moscow is trying, through the “austerity” observed in the annual review, to hide the extent of the decline in its army’s capabilities since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to the BBC, 8,000 soldiers took part in the parade, compared to 11,000 soldiers in last year’s parade.
But Russian officials have not yet provided any justification for the reduction in the review, or given a broad justification that there is a security threat because of the war in Ukraine. And according to the American Institute for the Study of War, based in Washington, it is “possible that the Russians used the attack with rallies on the Kremlin on May 3 in order to expand the circle of canceling military processions” in 21 Russian cities on the anniversary of Victory Day.
Where is the Russian military equipment?
This reduction in ceremonies and parades, the institute sees in it, is a way for the Kremlin to hide the deterioration in its forces and equipment, “because such events clearly display advanced military equipment,” and this equipment is either urgently needed by Russia now for its operations in Ukraine, or simply destroyed in the ongoing war. 14 months ago, at the Institute’s discretion.
And according to what Oryx is appreciated by Oryx Russia has lost in its war in Ukraine so far an average of 150 tanks per month.
“This[show]is supposed to be a masterpiece of Russian military power,” says Keir Giles, a Russia expert at London’s prestigious Chatham House think tank. “But so much of that military power has already been destroyed in Ukraine that Russia doesn’t have Little to show for her Red Square parade.”
