Russia to celebrate Victory Day – Photo: Getty Images

Russia will stage its annual Victory Day parade in Red Square today amid security concerns from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Victory Day celebrates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II and is a significant event for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Anticipation for the celebration has been overshadowed by a series of drone attacks that occurred in Moscow last week; one attack allegedly occurred above the Kremlin. Fuel depots and goods trains were targeted, while the media reportedly claimed additional explosions took place throughout Russian-occupied Crimea.

Putin’s administration labeled it a “terrorist” incident and an effort to kill the president, although Ukraine and Western allies refuted this allegation. Various Russian regions already scaled back celebrations over worries pro-Ukrainian saboteurs would target the events, while in Moscow fewer military personnel and less military equipment appeared to be involved in the preparations.

Normally, the Kremlin uses the event to flaunt its military might by showing off advanced equipment. Instead, Moscow’s large-scale parade will be closed off to the public. The Kremlin attributes the decision to the drone strike, though it is likely doing so to conceal the loss of military equipment in Ukraine. Putin will likely use the event to try and raise morale, despite worries of future strikes by Kyiv.