Steve Rosenberg: This year's Victory Day parade in Moscow felt very different

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Steve Rosenberg: This year's Victory Day parade in Moscow felt very different6 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleSteve RosenbergRussia editor, Moscow Steve Rosenberg: Scaled-back Victory Parade in Moscow's Red SquareI've attended many Victory Day parades on Red Square. This year's version felt very different. In previous years I've had to sprint from the media bus that normally parks up by St Basils' Cathedral, in order to nab a decent spot in the press area at the side of the square.

No running was required this year. There were far fewer journalists at the event. Many international media organisations had not been granted access.

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Once I was in position on Red Square, a Russian TV crew came up to me and started filming. "Steve, you're proof that foreign media have been allowed in," beamed the reporter. "Not really," I replied.

"I can't see any others. "I was glad to be there, though. To see for myself what Victory Parade 2026 would look like.

As well as fewer journalists, there were fewer guests in the stands, and fewer world leaders had flown in for the spectacle. But the biggest difference became evident once the parade got under way. There were no tanks, no rocket launchers, no intercontinental ballistic missiles on display - none of the military hardware which the Kremlin normally showcases on Victory Day to project Russian military power on the international stage.

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Getty ImagesRussian military servicemen gather during the Victory Day paradeThat's because this year's parade had been scaled back (hence fewer guests and fewer journalists). The authorities had cited security concerns, fearing Ukraine might target Red Square with drones. President Vladimir Putin will have been reluctant to pare back a parade that is always choreographed to portray Russian strength.

But fear of a potential Ukrainian attack forced the change. In the end, the parade passed off without incident. A last-minute ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, brokered by Donald Trump, reduced the danger of that.

On Friday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree "permitting" Russia to hold the parade. Ukraine's trolling wasn't appreciated by Moscow. A Kremlin spokesman commented that Russia didn't need anyone's permission to hold the Victory Parade.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.