Russia marked the 80th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany with a grand military parade on Red Square in Moscow, showcasing its military strength amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The event, held on May 9—Russia’s most important secular holiday—was attended by several foreign leaders, underlining the Kremlin’s efforts to project international influence and defy Western isolation.

Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, along with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, joined President Vladimir Putin for the commemorations. Vučić’s visit marks his first trip to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, despite EU warnings that such a move could jeopardize Serbia’s EU accession hopes.

In his speech, President Putin praised Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, calling them defenders against Nazism, Russophobia, and antisemitism.

“Russia has been and will be an impassable barrier for Nazism… The truth and fairness are on our side,” he declared, emphasizing national unity and pride in Russia’s “special military operation.”

More than 11,500 troops and 180 military vehicles, including tanks and nuclear-capable missile launchers, took part in the display. The air show featured fighter jets trailing smoke in the colors of the Russian flag.

The celebrations were held under tight security due to recent Ukrainian drone attacks and airport disruptions in Moscow. Internet outages were also reported, likely due to electronic countermeasures.

This year’s Victory Day, while rooted in remembrance of the Soviet Union’s immense sacrifices during World War II, also served as a platform for Putin to solidify domestic support and promote new global alliances amid an increasingly divided international landscape.

Port Sudan came under drone attack again on Friday, May 9, the sixth consecutive day of strikes in the coastal city that has become a vital hub for humanitarian aid and a refuge for civilians fleeing Sudan’s two-year war.

The attacks, reportedly carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeted key infrastructure including the airport, the port, and public buildings.

Footage online showed thick smoke rising over the city, but no official casualties or damage assessments have been released yet.

The United Nations has expressed grave concern, warning that this latest escalation risks mass civilian casualties and the destruction of essential infrastructure. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, through his spokesperson Farhan Haq, said he is alarmed by the violence spreading into an area that has served as a safe haven for thousands displaced from Khartoum and beyond.

The UN is urging all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and refrain from targeting civilians. With aid routes now threatened, the crisis in Sudan risks deepening even further.

Air raid sirens in Rajouri in Indian-controlled Kashmir continued into Friday morning after another night of heavy shelling between Indian and Pakistani soldiers.

The two countries have been engaged in a growing military standoff since an attack on tourists in the Indian-controlled area of the disputed region last month. Twenty-seven people including 25 Hindu tourists were killed and 20 others were injured.

Indian military officials say Pakistani forces barraged their posts overnight with artillery, mortars and gunfire at mulitple locations, leading to fiece exchanges until dawn.

A woman was killed and two other civilians were injured in Uri sector, police say, bringing the civilian death toll in India to 17 since Wednesday.

In Pakistan, across the Line of Control that divides Kashmir, at least four civilians were killed and 12 others wounded, according to local authorities.

In the northern Indian city of Dharamsala, panic spread during an evening cricket match and more than 10,000 people were evacuated from the stadium and the game called off.