Vladimir Putin oversaw a very understated Victory Day ceremony in Moscow, which featured just one tank and no aircraft soaring in the sky.
The tyrant typically deploys tanks, missiles, and other ominous weaponry systems to flaunt the vast array of military force at his disposal.
It was a noticeably diminished performance today in front of the Kremlin due to the considerable soldier and armor casualties suffered by Russian forces in Ukraine.
A total of 77 aircraft and helicopters participated in the airshow from 131 different units the previous year.
More than 125 units of different weapons and equipment were expected to be on show at this year’s parade, according to defence minister Sergei Shoigu.
Yet when the parade began, only one ancient T-34 tank from World War II led the mechanised column.
Armoured vehicles were also on display but the numbers were visibly lower than previous years and the usual flypast over the city was nowhere to be seen.
Addressing the rows of soldiers in dress uniform, Putin claimed a ‘war has been unleashed’ against Russia in a fiery 10-minute speech.
The president lashed out against ‘Western global elites’ and said the world is at ‘a decisive turning point’.
He also once again falsely likened his invasion of Ukraine to the struggle against Nazism, claiming that Russia is defending its sovereignty.
Putin made the claims despite the fact he ordered what the West calls an unprovoked invasion, destroying cities and killing thousands of civilians.
Russia even continued to fire missiles at Kyiv as troops paraded across Red Square for its annual celebration of victory in World War II.
Ukraine said its air defences had shot down 23 of 25 Russian cruise missiles fired mainly at the capital city overnight, and there were no reported casualties.
It was the second night in a row of major Russian air strikes and fifth so far this month.
On a visit to Kyiv today, EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen underlined how the war has isolated Russia from most of Europe and pushed Ukraine closer to the West.
She told a press conference: ‘Kyiv, as the capital of Ukraine, is the beating heart of today’s European values.
‘Courageously, Ukraine is fighting for the ideals of Europe that we celebrate today.’
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: ‘Our efforts for a united Europe, for security and peace, need to be as strong as Russia’s desire to destroy our security, our freedom, our Europe.’