VLADIMIR Putin has been forced to cancel Russia’s triumphant annual Victory Day parades over fears of Ukrainian kamikaze drone attacks.
The trembling tyrant, 71, has axed most of the May 9 celebrations – the most sacred day in the Russian calendar – because he couldn’t guarantee the safety of his citizens.
AFPA frightened Vladimir Putin has cancelled events across Russia over ‘security concerns’[/caption]
APThe parades are intended to show off Russia’s military might and bolster patriotism[/caption]
APRussian RS-24 Yars ballistic missiles being paraded in 2020[/caption]
GettyDecorations are already up for this year’s Victory Day decorations in Moscow’s Red Square – despite cancellations across the country[/caption]
The patriotic military parades are held throughout Russia as a means of celebrating the country defeating Nazi Germany in World War 2.
These events are usually used by Putin to showcase the might of the Russian military machine. and garner national pride – led by a giant parade in Moscow‘s Red Square.
This part will go ahead under intense security – overseen by Putin – but many regional parades have been scrapped along with associated major fireworks displays.
Belgorod, Bryansk, Pskov, Ryazan, Kursk and Saratov regions all cancelled their events, despite not all being close to Ukraine.
Victory Day has also been scrapped in the occupied regions of Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia and Sevastopol in Crimea over “security reasons”.
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the flag-waving day used to involve tanks, nuclear missiles and huge guns rumbling through the capital as warplanes soared overhead.
Across Russia hundreds of marches of the ‘Immortal Regiment’ – when people carry photos of their war veteran relatives – have been scrapped too, for security reasons.
One fear was also that these events could have been hijacked by anti-war protesters.
In some other regions, like Syktyvkar, fireworks have been cancelled and in Voronezh concerts have been aborted.
In Rostov and Voronezh, some parades are axed, while others may go ahead without spectators.
More cancellations are expected.
Last year, Victory Day was cancelled across a swathe of Russian territories with a pared-down event in Moscow with barely any heavy duty military equipment on display.
After two years of war in Ukraine, rumours were swirling that the parades were called off due to a lack of tanks to even put in the parades.
Local governors again cited “security concerns”.
The May 9 cancellations come as a regional official warned Russian students that the dictator is poised to order a new round of mobilisation amid fears he could lose the war.
Konstantin Dizendorf, from Krasnoyarsk region in Siberia, stood next to an 18-year-old being sent to Putin’s war and appeared to let slip the Kremlin plan.
He said: “Basically, our society understands that it is difficult for [Russia] today.
“We are standing on the threshold of whether we win – or not.
“We all understand this. And of course, most likely, there will be another call. Not for military service, but mobilisation.”
GettyPutin pictured at the low-key Victory Day parade last year[/caption]
APA smug looking Putin at Victory Day in 2022 – just months after his invasion of Ukraine[/caption]
APRussian’s Air Force Mikoyan MiG-31K jets carrying Kh-47M2 Kinzhal nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missiles fly over Red Square[/caption]
The same event being celebrated back in 1985 – the day is a source of national pride for Russia
The events have been scaled back since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine amid reports that tanks and equipment are scarce
Putin is estimated to need another 300,000 troops this year but may not get them without forced mobilisation, an unpopular move he has not attempted since September 2022.
The mobilisation led to a mass exodus of up to 300,000 young men fleeing Russia to escape the draft.
US weapons heading for front
Meanwhile, a tranche of fresh US weapons could be reaching Ukraine’s frontline in “just days”, US officials said ahead of Russia’s new offensive.
Yesterday, President Joe Biden signed a bill to provide Ukraine with a £50billion war chest.
After six months of stalling in Congress, Biden was finally able to clear the way for desperately needed artillery, missiles and air defense munitions to head for Kyiv.
The announcement brought relief along Ukraine’s 600-mile front after Kyiv had to painfully ration its weapons, leaving its forces vulnerable to deadly Russian attacks.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky hailed it as a historic decision “that keeps history on the right track” against “Russian evil”.
The legislation was officially signed the same day US officials confirmed the US had been secretly been sending Ukraine long-range ballistic missiles.
The bunker-busting ATACMS can reach targets “anywhere” within Russian-occupied Ukraine – potentially turning the tides of war in Kyiv’s favour, defence experts told The Sun.
Earlier this week, PM Rishi Sunak jetted off to Poland along with Nato chief Yens Stoltenberg for urgent security talks.
Sunak seized the moment to pledge to raise the UK’s defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 as he said Britain was on a “war footing”.
It marks the biggest defence boost in a generation with a cash injection of £75billion across the next six years.
Sunak hailed it as the “biggest strengthening of national defence in a generation” to combat a growing axis of evil between Russia, Iran, China and North Korea.
A record £500million was earmarked for President Zelensky’s war effort, as the PM warned Putin will not stop at the Polish border should the despot win in Ukraine,
The power-package will include further ammunition, air defence and drones and take the UK’s support for Kyiv to £3billion this financial year.
The Sun also spoke to three senior military experts about what the UK needs to shore up its own defences and build a war chest ready to take on Russia.
East2WestPutin at the May 9 celebrations in 2014 after he annexed the Ukrainian peninsula[/caption]
Peter JordanThe parades mark the role Soviet forces played in the defeat of Nazi Germany[/caption]
East2WestThousand usually line the streets of Moscow to mark Russia’s defeat of Nazi Germany[/caption]
APRussian warplanes fly over the Kremlin on May 9, 2021[/caption]
East2WestFireworks have largely been cancelled across the regional events[/caption]