Russia scales back Moscow Victory Day parade, blaming threat from Ukraine

In its statement late on Tuesday, the Russian defence ministry said this year's parade would include representatives of all branches of Russia's armed forces and a colourful fly-past. However, it made clear that "cadets from Suvorov military schools, Nakhimov [naval] schools, and cadet corps, as well as a column of military equipment will not participate in the military parade this year".Footage would also be shown on national TV, it said, of Russian military personnel "carrying out tasks in the special military operation zone" - a reference to how Moscow officially terms its invasion. Russia has been changing traditional parade formats in recent years - but it is the first time since the invasion of Ukraine that armoured columns will not be rolling on the Red Square.First reports that this year's event would be scaled down emerged on social media earlier this month, with several pro-Kremlin military bloggers writing about a growing threat of Ukrainian long-range aerial attacks."Imagine, 'Parade, stand at attention', and then a missile threat is announced. It would be a significant blow in terms of media coverage, even if nothing hits," blogger Ilya Tumanov was quoted as saying by Russian media.Several other pro-war commentators noted there had been none of the usual rehearsals that involve massive road closures in central Moscow.Meanwhile, a telecoms source told BBC Russian that "more powerful" restrictions on mobile communications would be imposed in Moscow on 5, 7 and 9 May. Mobile internet services were severely disrupted in the centre of Moscow in March, in what authorities linked to security reasons.Many Russian and foreign analysts agree that victory in World War Two - known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War - remains for President Putin the main historical narrative binding the country together.Ukraine has not publicly commented on Peskov's accusations, although a senior Ukrainian official last week ruled out any attack on the Victory Day parade in Moscow. "Nobody is attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure," said Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office.He pointed out that there would be many ordinary civilians in Moscow watching the event.Moscow - Russia's best protected city - has in recent weeks witnessed several Ukrainian drone attacks, with the Russian military regularly reporting that most of the projectiles are being shot down.Veniamin Kondratyev / ReutersSmoke rises following a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil refinery in Tuapse, southern RussiaUkraine has also significantly increased its strikes on key energy facilities deep inside Russia. Kyiv says they are legitimate targets, as they allow Moscow to continue its war effort.Clouds of smoke were visible near the city of Perm in the Urals on Wednesday, some 1,500km (930 miles) from the Ukrainian border, after what Ukrainian officials said was a drone strike on an oil pumping station, while the local governor referred to it as an industrial facility.