Vladimir Putin has used his annual Victory Day speech in Moscow's Red Square to justify his war in Ukraine and denounce Nato.

Speaking in front of hundreds of military personnel, the Russian president said he was fighting a "just" war and called Ukraine an "aggressive force" that is being "armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato".

His remarks come amid muted celebrations across Russia to mark the nation's biggest national holiday, commemorating the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.

Ahead of the celebrations, curtailed for security reasons amid fears of Ukrainian attack, Russia and Ukraine agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump on Friday.

Following the parade, Russia's defence ministry accused Ukraine of breaking the ceasefire, without providing details. Ukraine did not immediately comment.

For the first time in years, no armoured vehicles or ballistic missiles featured in Moscow's Victory Day parade.

But under tightened security, military personnel marched in droves across Red Square.

Addressing the crowd, Putin started his speech by commemorating the sacrifices of Soviet soldiers during World War Two.

"The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today," he said, referring to the war in Ukraine which has been going on for more than four years.

"They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato. And despite this, our heroes move forward."

The Russian leader went on to celebrate the citizens of Russia, making reference to the contributions of workers to its war effort, including scientists, inventors, military correspondents, doctors and teachers.

"No matter how military tactics change, the future of the country is being provided for by the people," he said.

Immediately after the speech, cannons fired successive rounds before music was played by a military brass band.

Foreign guests in attendance included Belarus's leader Alexander Lukashenko, Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim and Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the only representative of the EU to attend, was also pictured meeting Putin at the Kremlin ahead of the parade.

Markedly fewer world leaders turned up compared to last year's 80th anniversary parade, which featured 27 leaders including China's President Xi Jinping and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Russian TV viewers were shown a broadcast of soldiers on the front lines after Putin's speech.

Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin looks upwards during a ceremony in central Moscow, Russia, on 9 May 2026.

Putin used his annual Victory Day speech to justify his war in Ukraine

MAXIM SHIPENKOV/EPA/Shutterstock Russian servicemen march in rows wearing dark green fatigues, helmets with goggles placed on top, and holding guns. Kazan Cathedral, which is painted teal, red and white and features a gold dome, is behind them.

Hundreds of Russian soldiers took part in the parade in Red Square

Following the ceremony in Red Square, Putin laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before attending a reception at the Kremlin.

Victory Day celebrations took place in other parts of Russia, though in fewer numbers than previous years.

In far-eastern Vladivostok, a parade and an Immortal Regiment march honoured war veterans.

Reuters A Russian military commander salutes while standing in an open-top, white car being driven by another soldier on a road flanked by rows of military personnel.

Soldiers gathered for a parade in the far-eastern city of Vladivostok

Reuters Crowds of people march along a road carrying placards featuring pictures of soldiers and veterans during an Immortal Regiment march in Vladivostok.

Locals took part in an Immortal Regiment march. The marches commemorate war veterans and are a regular feature of Victory Day celebrations across Russia

Reuters Russian service members march in rows along a road in Vladivostok. The regiment is made up of women wearing black and gold uniforms. Vladivostok's celebrations started hours before Moscow's, as the city is some 9,000km from the capital and has a different timezone

Marches also took place in a number of other cities including Krasnoyarsk, in Siberia, and St Petersburg, state media reported.

Other parades were called off altogether.

Some virtual events were scheduled to take place instead, though internet outages were expected to disrupt them.

Under Putin, Victory Day has been used a propaganda tool to show off Russia's military might.

But it is also seen as a moment to remember the sacrifices made in World War Two - or the Great Patriotic War as it is called in Russia - in which 27 million Soviet citizens died.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched in 2022.

Despite the movement of troops and military equipment to the front lines, Russia had continued to feature military hardware such as tanks, missiles and other weapons in its annual Moscow parade up until now.

But last week officials announced this year's parade would be scaled back, citing the "current operational situation".

"Our tanks are busy right now," Russian MP Yevgeny Popov told the BBC earlier this week. "They are fighting. We need them more on the battlefield than on Red Square."

Security measures have also been tightened, with threats of Ukrainian drones used to justify the paring back of this year's parade.

A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine appeared to hold as the parade took place in Moscow.

But afterwards, Russia's defence ministry claimed Ukraine had violated the truce. It added that Russia would continue to observe the ceasefire.

Earlier in the week, Putin had announced a ceasefire for 8-9 May, while Kyiv had called for an indefinite truce, starting 6 May.

Since those announcements, the two countries have accused each other of extensive battlefield ceasefire violations. (BBC)

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