Russia's military is well on course to win the war on Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin underscored in his speech at Saturday's annual Victory Day parade in Moscow.
"I am firmly convinced: our cause is just, we stand united, victory has always been and will always be on our side," Putin said, his clipped tones echoing across Red Square by the Kremlin.
The Russian army, in its current deployment in Ukraine, is inspired by the "generation of victors" from World War II, the president, a former Soviet KGB intelligence officer, told thousands of troops and guests in attendance.
"They are standing up to an aggressive power that is armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc," said Putin, who ordered a full-scale invasion of Russia's neighbour in February 2022.
Despite Western support, "our heroes are marching forward," the president claimed, despite the prolonged stalemate along the frontline, with only minimal gains by either side in recent months.
Ukraine is receiving significant support from NATO states in its defensive struggle against nominally much larger enemy forces.
The parties have agreed to a ceasefire until May 11, brokered by US President Donald Trump. According to the Kremlin, there have been no violations so far.
"The key to success is our moral and ethical strength, our courage and bravery, our unity, and our ability to endure anything and overcome any challenge," said Putin.
"We have a common goal, and everyone is making their own personal contribution to victory – fighting both on the battlefield and on the home front."
Parade scaled back
Moscow marked Victory Day with its traditional military parade, but this year's celebrations are being held under heightened security and without the usual display of defence hardware.
A large security detail was protecting the president during his public appearance and mobile internet has been shut down.
Earlier, soldiers and cadets marched past Putin with the scaled-down parade with fewer guests seen as symbolic of the situation in the Kremlin's war on Ukraine.
The absence of tanks, missiles and military equipment is reportedly due to concerns over possible Ukrainian drone attacks.
The Kremlin also withdrew invitations to foreign journalists at short notice. Only a few foreign dignitaries are expected, including Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the only EU leader present in Moscow, though he was not expected to attend the parade itself.
The authorities also imposed restrictions in the capital, and the mobile internet blackouts extend beyond Moscow to other cities too.
Ceasefire during celebrations
On Friday, US President Donald Trump said Ukraine and Russia had agreed to a three-day ceasefire from Saturday to Monday at his request. The statement followed days of conflicting and overlapping ceasefire announcements by the two sides.
Russia had previously declared a unilateral ceasefire that coincided with the Victory Day events that mark the 81st anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, as the Soviet part of World War II is formally known.
Ukraine responded with a unilateral truce beginning May 6, but later withdrew it after it said Russia had continued with its attacks, including one of its largest drone strikes so far in the conflict.
Russia commemorates the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II on May 9 because the German Wehrmacht’s surrender in 1945 was signed late on May 8 in Berlin, when it was already past midnight in Moscow.
