Vladimir Putin was seen casually conversing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while pro-Kremlin American actor Steven Seagal looked on as tanks and missiles rumbled across the cobblestones of Moscow’s Red Square.

These scenes played out in the VIP section during Russia’s flagship Victory Day parade on Friday — a grand display of military might hold in front of foreign dignitaries, even as Moscow's war in Ukraine rages on.

Putin, who launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has frequently invoked the legacy of the Soviet victory in World War II to bolster support for the Russian military.

In 2023 and 2024, Russia scaled down its Victory Day celebrations, reportedly due to a shortage of equipment as much of it was deployed to the front lines. The number of foreign attendees was also limited, with many global leaders avoiding public association with Putin.

But this year, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and entering the third year of the Ukraine campaign, the parade returned in full force.

Under clear blue skies, Moscow unveiled a new fleet of tanks, Iskander missiles, and — for the first time — attack drones of the type frequently used in coordinated strikes on Ukraine. Chinese troops also marched in the parade, a rare sight in Russia’s most iconic square.

Putin delivered a brief speech, declaring that victory in Ukraine was approaching.

"The entire nation, society, and people support the participants of the special military operation," he stated. "We are proud of their courage and determination — the resilience that has always led us to victory."

Amid tight censorship and crackdowns on dissent, criticism of the war remains banned in Russia, prompting thousands of citizens to flee the country.

Massive banners across Red Square read “Victory Will Be Ours,” echoing Soviet-era slogans and drawing direct parallels between the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany and today’s military efforts in Ukraine.

Snipers, Drones, and Foreign Leaders
Security was heightened in the lead-up to the event, with authorities citing drone attacks from Ukraine as an ongoing threat. Snipers were stationed atop GUM, the 19th-century luxury department store that flanks Red Square, and the Internet was jammed throughout central Moscow.

Troops shouted the traditional Russian battle cry of “Ura!” as they marched past more than 20 foreign leaders.

Alongside Xi, attendees included Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi — all considered close partners of Moscow.

Sanctioned leaders such as Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel, and Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko — Putin’s closest ally — were also present. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico defied EU sentiment by attending a wreath-laying ceremony, a move the Kremlin hailed as an "act of heroism."

North Korean Commanders and Kremlin Celebrities
Spectators applauded as Russian troops returning from Ukraine passed by. In the guest tribune, a German woman turned to her friend and asked, “Oh, have you seen the navy cadets?”

Nearby, members of the "Night Wolves" — a nationalist motorcycle gang known for their loyalty to the Kremlin — sat near Steven Seagal, who has long-standing ties to Putin and holds Russian citizenship.

As Chinese troops prepared to march, a visitor from Beijing stood up to cheer and record the moment on their phone.

After the parade, Putin descended from the stands to personally greet soldiers who fought in Ukraine. He also embraced and spoke with North Korean military commanders — representatives of one of Russia’s closest allies, which has reportedly sent thousands of troops to assist Russia’s operations in the Kursk region.

“All the best to you and your troops,” Putin was heard saying in a state television broadcast.