Putin Stages History: Victory Day as a Propaganda Show

In the heart of Moscow, flanked by heavy missiles and well-choreographed steps, Vladimir Putin marked the 80th Victory Day with a message that extended far beyond 1945. The Red Square parade became a mirror of the Kremlin’s contemporary ambitions, where history was bent, polished, and wielded as a weapon in the information war.

Amid the 11,000 marching troops, a new formation rolled in: trucks with combat drones—an unmistakable nod to their growing role in the Ukraine conflict. That these very machines were showcased on a day that normally celebrates past heroism is a testament to a carefully orchestrated narrative: Russia’s fight against Nazism then and “Nazis in Ukraine” now, according to Putin’s rhetoric.

Xi Jinping as Guest of Honor – and a Signal to the West

The most prominent figure on the dais was not Russian, but China’s President, Xi Jinping, stood close to Putin, flanked by over 100 Chinese soldiers. Their joint appearance in Moscow was more than diplomacy—it was a visual manifesto of the strategic axis now uniting Russia and China against what they term “the collective West.”

With Xi wearing the black-orange St. George’s ribbon—a symbol banned in several EU countries—the message was clear: “Our friendship is historic, the resistance is mutual.”

This alliance was further bolstered by the participation of soldiers from North Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia.

Particularly the sight of Putin embracing North Korean General Kim Yong-bok added a volatile tone to an already choreographed spectacle.

A Ceasefire Without a Ceasefire

Leading up to the festivities, Russia announced a unilateral three-day ceasefire. Ukraine called it a “theatrical performance”—and mere hours past midnight, the attacks resumed.

According to Kyiv, Russian forces have launched thousands of artillery strikes and drones since the ceasefire took effect. Putin, however, declared that Russia was only “mirroring” Ukrainian violations.

In his speech, he said: “Truth and justice are on our side.” The words were not addressed to those present, but to the entire nation—and the international community.

Here, Victory Day was used to strengthen support for the war in Ukraine and portray it as a continuation of the Soviet Union’s struggle against Nazism.

History as Claim and Strategy

There is nothing as powerful as a narrative already residing in the nation’s soul. Hence, Putin ties modern war to historic victories.

By drawing parallels between World War II and the conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin seeks to legitimize its policies and claim hero status—thereby blurring criticism.

But it is precisely this rewriting of the past that makes this year’s parade more than a ceremony. It became a staging where old symbols were given new significance, and drones in columns became the future’s answer to the battle tanks of the past.

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