Russia has once again refused to hold its main naval parade
According to media reports, as of 15 June, no presidential decree had been issued regarding the holding of the Russian Navy’s main parade. Nor are the fleets planning any trips to St Petersburg.
The Russian Ministry of Defence and the Navy High Command stated that no orders regarding preparations had been received, although preparations should already be in full swing at this stage.
What has been stated in Russia
The media note that it is not entirely accurate to speak of the parade’s cancellation, as preparations for it have not yet begun.
One of the publication’s sources in the Russian Navy commented on the situation, saying: “You understand, this is not the time for that.”
There has been no official public statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence regarding whether or not the parade will take place in 2026.
What is known about the parade
The Russian Federation’s main naval parade has been held in St Petersburg since 2017. It was usually organised in the summer ahead of Navy Day.
In 2025, Russia cancelled the parade entirely for the first time. At the time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the decision had been taken for security reasons.
In 2024, the parade was also held in a scaled-down format.
Strike on Kronstadt
On the night of 3 June 2026, the Ukrainian Defence Forces struck the Kronstadt naval base, which is considered the main outpost of the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine reported the destruction of the Russian corvette “Boykyi” at the Kronstadt naval base.
According to the Ukrainian side, the “Boyky” is equipped with missile armament. SBS Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi reported that the ship was undergoing scheduled repairs at the Veleschynsky Dry Dock in Kronstadt.
Why this matters
The second cancellation of the parade indicates that Russia is restricting even symbolic military events in major cities.
At the same time, this is currently based solely on a report by a Russian publication citing sources within the Russian military. There is no official decree regarding the parade, and, according to this information, preparations have not begun.
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