Victory Day parade looking pathetic | Eastern Express
Russia’s 2026 Victory Day celebrations were supposed to project strength and unity. Instead, Moscow looked tense, heavily restricted, and increasingly affected by the realities of a war now in its fifth year. In this episode of Eastern Express, our host Benjamin Lee and his guest, Beatrice Heuser, Senior Associate Fellow in Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, examine how the Kremlin uses World War II memory to justify the invasion of Ukraine, and why that narrative is beginning to show signs of strain. From muted parades to internet blackouts and the symbolism of the Immortal Regiment marches, this year’s May 9 revealed a country struggling to maintain the image of confidence it once projected so easily. As fear of Ukrainian drones and wartime fatigue grow, even Russia’s most sacred political ritual is changing.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Victory Day parade mythos cracks
03:16 Introduction: Why is Victory Day so important in Russia?
07:44 Interview: The origins and purpose of the modern Victory Day parade
11:09 Interview: Human faces vs. hardware – propaganda effectiveness
15:00 Interview: North Korean participation
15:52 Interview: The Russian people’s frustration with security measures
20:37 Eastern News Flash
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