Allies pointedly absent at Russia’s World War II Victory Day parade

Russia showed off new machines of war, including a highly sophisticated tank, on Saturday in the annual Victory Day military parade through Red Square that marks the surrender of Nazi Germany and the Red Army’s key role in the defeat. In an apparent dig at the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin also criticised attempts to establish a “unipolar” world order and stressed the need to develop a “system of equal security for all states”

Our fathers and grandfathers went through unbearable suffering, deprivation and losses. We are grateful to the people of Great Britain, France and the United States for their contribution to victory.

President Vladimir Putin

The Armata tank drew a round of strong applause as it rumbled through the square, part of a long convoy that ranged from the World War II era to the most modern. Also on view for the first time at the parade was a lumbering RS-24 Yars ICBM launcher along with several new, smaller vehicles. Victory Day is Russia’s most important secular holiday, both commemorating the Soviet Union’s huge suffering in the war and highlighting Russia’s portrayal of itself as a force for peace and security.

World VEDay