Russia commemorated the 80th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany May 9, 2025, with a grand military parade on Moscow’s Red Square, a display of military might amid its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The event, Russia’s most significant secular holiday, underscored the Kremlin’s intent to project global influence and counter Western efforts to isolate it diplomatically.
Over 11,500 troops, 180 military vehicles—including T-90 tanks and Yars nuclear-capable missile launchers—and a flyover of Su-35 jets trailing Russian flag colours highlighted the spectacle. Tight security measures, prompted by recent Ukrainian drone strikes and airport disruptions, included electronic countermeasures causing localised internet outages.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, Mali’s Assimi Goïta, and Niger’s Abdourahamane Tchiani—all military leaders who seized power through coups—stood prominently among foreign dignitaries. They were joined by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, broadening Africa’s representation at the event.
The Sahel leaders’ presence highlights Russia’s deepening foothold in that strategic region, where Wagner Group mercenaries have replaced Western security forces in combating jihadist insurgencies.
“Russia remains an impassable barrier to Nazism. Truth and fairness are on our side,” declared President Vladimir Putin, framing the Ukraine invasion as a continuation of Russia’s historical battle against fascism—rhetoric that resonates with African leaders who embrace Moscow’s anti-colonial messaging.
China’s Xi Jinping, Brazil’s Lula da Silva, and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić—the latter defying EU warnings that could derail Serbia’s accession—joined leaders from Central Asia, Cuba, and Laos in what analysts call Putin’s “multipolar world coalition.”
Extraordinary security measures blanketed Moscow, with electronic countermeasures causing localised internet disruptions following recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory.
For the African contingent, the visit likely presages deeper military partnerships, including expanded contracts with Russian mercenaries and advanced weapons acquisitions. Economic deals in mining and energy sectors appear imminent, with Niger’s recent uranium agreement with Rosatom serving as a template.
The celebration of Soviet sacrifices—27 million lives lost in World War II—has transformed into Putin’s platform for cementing a global alliance system challenging Western dominance, with African strongmen gaining Russian backing for their regimes in exchange for diplomatic support, resource access, and strategic positioning in the escalating global power competition.
