- Category
- Latest news
Putin Scraps Russia’s Navy Day Parade for the First Time—Here’s Why
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
For the first time since its inception in 2017, Russia has cancelled its main Navy Day parade traditionally held in St. Petersburg, citing security reasons, according to a British Ministry of Defense intelligence report dated July 27.
The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the cancellation, noting that the decision was made “on security grounds.” Despite the cancellation, Vladimir Putin arrived in St. Petersburg on Sunday to meet with senior Navy officials and congratulate sailors.
Between 2017 and 2024, the St. Petersburg parade served as the central event marking Navy Day in Russia. It typically included a review of warships, some of which were deployed from other regions to participate. Foreign vessels and delegations often attended the celebrations.
In 2024, the event was scaled back, but this year marks the first complete cancellation. The British Ministry of Defense stated that “small-scale ceremonies are still likely to take place,” and that Navy Day remains a national holiday in Russia.
According to the UK intelligence report, the parade, originally scheduled for July 27, was cancelled “almost certainly” due to security concerns. The decision follows repeated long-range drone attacks across Russian territory, with reports indicating that hundreds of strike UAVs targeted military facilities overnight on July 27.
Despite the absence of the parade, Putin’s visit to St. Petersburg appears aimed at maintaining the symbolic significance of the date. However, the cancellation underscores the impact of ongoing Ukrainian operations on Russian internal security.
Earlier, during the “July Storm” drills in the Baltic Sea, Russia unveiled a new strike sea drone that closely resembles Ukraine’s naval drones—detonating it against a stationary target in a staged demonstration. While Russian sources touted its range and payload, experts noted the lack of defenses or real combat conditions, suggesting the test was more show than substance.
