Russia's single-tank parade an embarrassment

Usually a large scale event, occurring simultaneously in cities across the country, this year was tapered down so much that multiple regions and cities ceased their festivities, some canceling them altogether.

The parade in Moscow didn't have any modern tanks, infantry fighting vehicles or aviation. It was one of the smallest in Russian history, taking less than 10 minutes.

There was one T-34 tank that took part in WWII. No Iskanders, Armata tanks, aviation. The walking part of the… pic.twitter.com/WA0EIYnEaj

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 9, 2023

The Capitol city of Moscow dispensed with fly-overs and the “Immortal Regiment” processions which are usually a huge deal, honoring Russian troops lost during WWII.

The most startling scale-back of this year’s parade was the presence of only one Stalin-era tank paraded through Red Square. was on display in the military parade through Red Square was particularly eye-catching, analysts noted. Peter Dickinson, editor of the Ukraine Alert blog at the Atlantic Council commented:

“It would be hard to image a more fitting symbol of Russia’s declining military fortunes than the sight of a solitary Stalin-era tank trundling across Red Square during the country’s traditional Victory Day celebrations on May 9. For the past two decades, Vladimir Putin has used Victory Day to showcase modern Russia’s resurgence as a military superpower, with dozens of the very latest tanks typically taking part in each annual parade. This year, however, the only tank on display was a T-34 model dating back to World War II. Inevitably, the embarrassing absence of tanks at this year’s Victory Day parade has been widely interpreted as further evidence of Russia’s catastrophic losses in Ukraine.”

The UK Ministry of Defense also noted that “the make-up of Russia’s annual Victory Day Parade in Red Square highlighted the materiel and strategic communications challenges” faced by Russian forces almost a year and a half into the war.

In fact, their latest tweeted intelligence update said, “Over 8,000 personnel reportedly took part in the parade, but the majority were auxiliary, paramilitary forces, and cadets from military training establishments. The only personnel from deployable formations of regular forces were contingents of Railway Troops and military police.”