The Victory Day parade on Red Square will take place this year in a ceremonial format, said State Duma Defense Committee First Deputy Chairman Alexey Zhuravlev.

According to him, since the start of the special military operation, holding the parade has become more risky and requires increased security measures. He noted that last year the event was held as planned despite heightened threats, and attempts to disrupt it were unsuccessful. At the same time, he did not rule out that new attempts could be made this year.

Zhuravlev stated that Ukraine may try to interfere with the celebrations, including through the use of drones or sabotage actions in the capital. He expressed hope that the parade will proceed as scheduled, including the aerial part, which is the most vulnerable to external factors and has previously been canceled due to weather conditions.

He also said that invitations have not yet been sent out, so it is too early to determine who will attend, with final decisions to be made later by the protocol service.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied reports about a possible cancellation of the parade, stating that Moscow is preparing for the May 9 celebrations.

The general rehearsal is scheduled for May 7. This year, Victory Day falls on a Friday, creating a long weekend and allowing residents and visitors to take part in the celebrations marking the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.