Booted at Victory Day: A modest parade with a misstep in Red Square
On Thursday, the 21st Victory Day parade took place, drawing more than 9,000 soldiers who marched through Red Square in Moscow. A soldier was involved in the event.
Many reports circulated by Russian and Belarusian media about alleged attacks and aggression from Ukraine are likely untrue. These reports may serve as part of an information warfare strategy by the Russian Federation.
This year marked President Putin's 21st time watching the Victory Day parade, and it was notably one of the most modest iterations of the event.
A parade participant loses a boot
The Russian Ministry of Defense had announced beforehand that the parade would feature over 9,000 soldiers and around 70 pieces of military equipment.
As highlighted in a video, one of the soldiers marching through Red Square lost his boot, yet no one among the participants stopped to retrieve it.
Only one tank, the historical T-34 that participated in World War II, was seen driving through Red Square. This tank, leading the display of motorized forces as is tradition, marked a notably more modest presence this year.
The parade also showcased several armored vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles. Spectators were treated to the sight of Iskander-M missile complexes, S-400 air defense systems, and Yars strategic missile systems.
The spectacle on Red Square wrapped up with an aerial show.
Who joined Putin?
In the viewing stand, Putin was accompanied by nine foreign leaders. These included the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as President Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos, President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba, and President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau.
