Russia’s Victory Day Parade Highlights Military Might Amid Economic and Diplomatic Challenges

On Friday, Russia will mark the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat with a grand military parade in Red Square, attended by foreign dignitaries and designed to project strength and global influence. The event serves as a symbolic gesture foreshadowing Russia’s anticipated success in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Victory Day parade, held annually near the Kremlin’s historic walls, is set to be the most extensive since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Russian authorities and supporters have leveraged this occasion to bolster public backing for the war, intertwining the revered memory of World War II triumph with the contentious present-day military campaign.

“Our monumental victory 80 years ago is reshaping the narrative around Russia’s current confrontation with the West,” stated Sergei Lyaguzin, an international relations professor, during a recent broadcast on Russian state television.

Despite the display of power, Russia faces significant challenges beneath the surface. Military advancements remain limited on the battlefield, the economy shows signs of strain with declining oil prices—the nation’s primary export—and diplomatic relations are increasingly unsettled, as notable global figures express waning support for President Vladimir Putin’s war effort.

President Putin appears to downplay these difficulties, accepting short-term economic and diplomatic setbacks while banking on endurance to eventually secure a historic victory, according to Alexander Kolyandr, a Russian economic specialist at the Center for European Policy Analysis.

“There is a firm belief within Russia that resilience, rather than superiority, will determine the outcome,” Kolyandr explained. “Victory will go to the side that endures the longest, not necessarily the strongest.”