In Russian military parade meant to project power, analysts see ‘real vulnerability’

For Seskuria, the non-inclusion of defense equipment matters because it takes away from a central focus of the Victory Day celebrations, which have typically provided “powerful optics” and reinforced “Russia’s image as the heir to Soviet victory in World War II.” She stressed that “removing this important element weakens the propaganda value of the event, particularly for domestic audiences, as it reduces one of the most visible symbols of Russian power and military prestige.”