Ukraine-invading paratroopers to march in Victory Day military parade in Moscow 

Paratroopers who took part in Russia’s invasion into Ukraine participated in the parade's rehearsal on Saturday morning, according to TASS.

They are scheduled to partake in the Victory Day Parade on 9 May. They will be driving BTR-MD air-cushioned armoured vehicles. Such vehicles have been used by the Russian army since 2016.

The same vehicles were seen in April in the Donetsk region of Ukraine with V symbols on them. It is reported that some of the paratroops received those in 2021.

A total of 11,000 soldiers are participating in the Victory Parade rehearsals. 33 crews and 131 units of equipment will be marching the cobbles of Moscow’s Red Square. Meanwhile, 77 planes and helicopters are scheduled for the aircraft display, including the Il-80, also known as Putin’s ‘doomsday plane’ and a nuclear war battle headquarters.

Ukraine’s intelligence reported earlier that Russia had scheduled a military display and other ‘ceremonial events’ in Mariupol on 9 May, involving Sergey Kiriyenko, the First Deputy Chief at Putin’s administration. It is also worth noting that Vladimir Putin didn’t invite any foreign leaders to the Victory Day military display this time, unlike previous years.

CNN reported earlier that Putin may officially declare war on Ukraine and enable full mobilisation on 9 May. Both the Kremlin and the Russian parliament denied the speculation.