Putin's Russia

Massive security in Moscow during scaled-down celebrations
Security in Moscow has been greatly strengthened ahead of today's celebration of the so-called Victory Day, Reuters reports. The traditional parade will be scaled down this year without heavy weapons such as chariots and rockets, due to threats of Ukrainian attacks.

- It is a sign of weakness and a snub for Putin, says military analyst Jörgen Elfving to SVT Nyheter.

Russian authorities have warned of massive retaliatory attacks if the celebrations are disrupted, writes AP. At the same time, the mobile network in the capital has been limited for security reasons, and several foreign leaders, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, are attending the ceremony.

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire between May 9 and 11. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, the agreement also includes

North Korean soldiers march in Putin's parade

Putin's greatly reduced Victory Day parade did not include tanks or missiles. However, North Korean soldiers marched through Moscow.

This is the first time that North Korean soldiers have participated in the parade, which experts believe is a sign of Moscow and Pyongyang's increasingly deep partnership.

Over 10,000 soldiers are estimated to have been sent from North Korea to fight for Russia in the war against Ukraine, according to estimates from Kyiv and Seoul.

Analysis: The power elite is gathered in Moscow – that's why Zelensky is not attacking

The unusually slimmed down Victory Day parade in Moscow may be a sign that the Kremlin is deeply concerned about Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil, says DN's Ukraine correspondent Sanna Torén Björling.

"Ukraine has shown its military capacity to reach Moscow – and to do so with precision," she writes, describing the game around the ceasefires as an ongoing showdown between Ukraine and Russia.

TV4's Johan Fredriksson believes that the Ukrainian attacks inside Russia have frightened the Russian president and contributed to the celebrations being scaled down.

"If Putin's nightmare comes true – that Ukrainian drones or missiles reach Moscow in the middle of the festivities – at least no international news media should be there to witness the scandal," he writes.

While the parade is being held in Russia, there is a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Former Russia correspondent Maria Persson Löfgren tells Ekot that it is important for Ukraine to show the world that the country respects the agreement.