Ukraine threat prompts Krasnodar to nix victory parade
According to the Ukrainian portal Militarny, the governor of Krasnodar Krai, Beniamin Kondratyev, announced that this year's Victory Day Parade in Krasnodar will not take place. This decision was made for security reasons due to concerns about potential strikes from Ukrainian drones.
Militarnyi added that the Russians will most likely relocate the parade to Novorossiysk, but many other events planned for May 9 will ultimately be canceled since a safe location cannot be found. Ukrainians recall that as of 2024, events organized on May 9 have been canceled in every fourth district of the Russian Federation.
Russia cancels the parade in Krasnodar
"There will be no parade in Krasnodar. The parade will take place in Novorossiysk because it's a big risk; air threat warnings are issued almost every night," Kondratyev said.
Kondratyev also stated that the decision was made jointly with law enforcement and military representatives. However, the Ukrainian portal Militarnyi points out that Novorossiysk is not completely safe either. In the past, Ukrainians have attacked military and industrial facilities in this location, making it within range of Ukrainian weapons.
Shortcomings in last year's parade
During last year's parade on Red Square in Moscow, observers noted shortcomings related to armored units. Only one tank, a T-34-85, appeared at the parade. This model was produced from 1940 to 1957, with production taking place not only in the Soviet Union but also in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Currently, these tanks are considered obsolete and hold no combat value on a modern battlefield. Nevertheless, several units appeared during the conflict in Ukraine, which, according to some observers and experts, could be seen as an act of desperation by the Russian authorities.
When designing the T-34, engineers aimed to create a tank that could compete with Western models like the Panther and Tiger. The T-34-85 versions began production in 1944. With a weight of approximately 35 tons and engine power of 500 horsepower, these tanks can reach speeds of about 34 mph. Their armor is made of rolled plates, and the armament consists of an outdated 1944 ZiS-S-53 85 mm gun. These parameters are difficult to compare with modern tanks, and additionally, the T-34-85 lacks many optical and electronic systems that were developed in later years.
