Victory Parade in Moscow: A T‑34 tank stands alone

Although this year's Victory Parade on Red Square in Moscow was prepared on a larger scale than last year's, observers highlighted the absence of armoured units. They pointed out that only one tank was showcased - the old T-34-85, whose history and capabilities we remember.

The T-34 tanks were manufactured between 1940 and 1957, not just in the USSR but also in Poland and Czechoslovakia. They are considered outdated by modern standards, demonstrating little to no combat effectiveness on today's battlefields. However, several of these tanks were also spotted during the conflict in Ukraine, which some observers and experts interpreted as a sign of the Russian government's desperation.

Initially, the T-34 was designed to counteract the Western Panther and Tiger tanks. The T-34-85 models, produced in 1944, weigh about 32 tonnes and are powered by a 500 hp engine, enabling speeds of up to approximately 55 km/h. They feature welded armour made from rolled plates and antiquated armament, such as a 1944 ZiS-S-53 85 mm gun. These characteristics are hardly comparable to those of modern tanks. Furthermore, the T-34-85 lacks many optical and electronic systems in later models.

"This T-34, the legendary Soviet tank from World War II, was the only Russian tank on display at the Victory Day parade in Red Square today. The others must all be busy somewhere!" – commented Max Seddon, head of the "Financial Times" Moscow bureau, as reported by "Newsweek". The Russian officials, however, portrayed the showcased vehicle as a "symbol of victory over Nazism."

The Kremlin made efforts to avoid the embarrassment of last year's event. The Victory Parade then was ridiculed as a "parade of shame," with numerous satirical comments circulating on social media. In the weeks leading up to the parade, Western military hardware captured in Ukraine, including the latest Abrams and Leopard 2A6 tanks, were transported to Moscow for a special exhibition spanning several days.

During the peak of the Victory Parade, a more excellent array of Russian weaponry was displayed compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, as the independent Russian channel Mozhem Obyasnit noted, the 61 pieces of military hardware shown at this year's event were still more than three times less than those in 2021.

The Russians exhibited, among other things, S-400 anti-aircraft systems and Iskander-M missile systems, which are adaptable for nuclear warheads. Several aircraft also participated, including the Su-30 and Su-25. However, the display lacked heavily armoured vehicles. Like last year, only one tank was paraded through Red Square—the T-34 above from World War II.

Many experts argue that this year's modest parade further showcases the challenges Russia faces due to the war in Ukraine. Commentators suggest that the conflict, initiated by Putin, continues to drain significant resources from his military, particularly tanks. For instance, T-90 Proryv tanks, which Putin has boasted are the best in the world, are being destroyed on the front lines. Meanwhile, the so-called superweapon, T-14 Armata tanks, are notably absent from the conflict in Ukraine.

- Displaying Armata tanks at the parade is now a source of embarrassment for the Russian government. Someone may start posing inconvenient questions - stated Jan Matwiejew, an analyst linked with the circle of the late Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.

Officials in Moscow seldom disclose information regarding the military's casualties and equipment losses in the war in Ukraine. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) estimated in February that these losses have surpassed 3,000 tanks and 5,600 armoured vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles.