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Ukrainian Troops to Join London Parade Marking 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel will participate in a commemorative military parade in London on May 5, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
The event highlights Ukraine’s presence in a key Allied remembrance ceremony as the country continues to defend itself amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion.
According to Reuters, citing the UK Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian servicemembers will march alongside approximately 1,000 British troops through central London as part of the official VE Day procession, which will also include the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Marines, cavalry units, and military bands.
Ukrainian troops taking part in the event are deployed in the UK under Operation Interflex—a British-led training initiative launched in mid-2022 with support from 12 partner countries. Since its inception, the program has trained over 54,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
British Defense Secretary John Healey stated it was appropriate to include Ukrainian forces in this year’s commemoration: “In the midst of the first full-scale war in Europe since World War II, it is fitting that the Armed Forces of Ukraine, currently fighting on the frontlines of freedom, are represented.”
The procession will begin at Parliament Square, where excerpts from Winston Churchill’s original VE Day speech will be read aloud by an actor. A ceremonial transfer of the Torch of Peace will follow. The parade will proceed to Buckingham Palace, culminating in a flypast by Royal Air Force aircraft.
A national service of thanksgiving will be held at Westminster Abbey, with participation expected from members of the UK royal family. An evening concert is also planned, featuring actors and musicians recounting the end of the Second World War. Food festivals will be held across the UK as part of the day’s observances.
Military personnel from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand are also scheduled to participate, each carrying their national flags.
VE Day is commemorated annually on May 8 in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, marking the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany’s surrender in 1945. Russia observes the event a day later, on May 9.
Earlier, The Times reported that a classified Royal Air Force simulation revealed the UK’s air defenses would struggle to repel a large-scale Russian-style missile and drone attack, exposing critical gaps in homeland security and prompting urgent defense upgrades.
