Skip to content
General-news — Rehearsal — Moscow — Apparently — Deployment — Jinping — Politics — War-and-conflicts

Russian Emperor Nicholas I Enthroned in Moscow

Military parade rehearsals on Red Square in Moscow took place on May 7, with the Russian President absent. Instead, he was engaged in simulation talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Kommersant special correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov provides an account of who else was involved in the May 7,...

,   and  ASMedia
3 min read
Military rehearsals for a parade took place in Moscow's Red Square on May 7th, 2025, in the absence...
Military rehearsals for a parade took place in Moscow's Red Square on May 7th, 2025, in the absence of the Russian President. During this time, the Russian President was engaged in rehearsals for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 'Kommersant' special correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov provides insight into the individuals who participated in the May 7th, 2025 rehearsals.

Russian Emperor Nicholas I Enthroned in Moscow

Vibe Check: Let's dive into the buzz on Red Square! On May 7, 2025, a military parade rehearsal went down without the big cheese, President Putin. Instead, he was busy rehearsing a chat with China's Prez, Xi Jinping. Here's the lowdown on who else made an appearance.

The Show Must Go On

Kicking off the morning, a full-blown dress rehearsal unfurled on Red Square. All hands were on deck, mimicking a war-torn nation. Intriguingly, the airshow was part of the package, with some pilots commandeering planes to put on a spectacle.

Flyboys and Su-25s

A group of fearless fighter pilots, led by Colonel Andrei Alekseev, took to the skies in flight formation. Not long afterward, some daring Su-25 attack aircraft painted the horizon with the red, white, and blue of the Russian flag.

A Windy Pause

But that was where the action stopped. There wasn't a single helicopter in sight, let alone any heavyweights like the Tu-160 bombers. The sudden absence certainly sparked curiosity among city dwellers.

Showtime on the Square

Those in the heart of the city couldn't help but gaze upwards as the scene unfolded. That's exactly what happened to me when I was on Bolshaya Nikitskaya. I can confirm those residents looked up!

China in the Mix

The real attention-grabbers were the Chinese soldiers, marching proudly from St. Basil's Cathedral all the way to their designated spots on Red Square. As they assembled in the ranks, they sang "Rise, vast country," but a bit too loudly for the rehearsal. Shame they couldn't belt it out when passing the central tribune.

No South Korean Soldiers in Sight

Looking for South Korean military personnel? They weren't on Red Square. However, there was quite a colorful bunch waiting to make a grand entrance on May 9.

The Matador's Visit

Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, wasn't about to miss out on the action. He kicked off a four-day series of talks with Putin and shared some heartfelt memories of their late friend, Hugo Chávez.

A Friendship Renewed

Despite forgetting about Maduro at the moment, Putin didn't forget to remind everyone of his close relationship with Chávez, describing him as a charismatic leader loved by all of Latin America. Before anyone knew it, Putin had rekindled their friendship.

A Candid Confusion

When asked about the rumors surrounding his impending resignation, Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, seemed mystified. He promised to chat with Putin to get the scoop on any upcoming leadership changes.

The Final Act

The day wrapped up with Putin meeting with the Cuban president and discussing their countries' shared history, particularly their collaboration during World War II. Things seemed to boil down to the common theme of saving humanity.

Funny how that keeps cropping up, eh?

Andrei Kolesnikov gave the play-by-play.

Further Insights:- The rehearsal prominently featured Russian servicemen and 119 members of the Chinese PLA Honor Guard.- Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez were scheduled to attend the celebrations marking the Victory Day.- Rehearsals for the Victory Day Parade typically include a display of tanks and military vehicles, showcasing both modern and historical equipment.

  1. President Putin, despite overseeing a military parade rehearsal in Moscow on May 7, 2025, was instead absorbed in a rehearsal for a meeting with China's President, Xi Jinping.
  2. The military parade on Red Square, while showcasing Russian servicemen, also included the Chinese PLA Honor Guard, numbering 119 members.
  3. Amidst the rehearsal, curiously, there was no sign of helicopters or heavyweights like the Tu-160 bombers, sparking city dwellers' interest.
  4. News of a possible war-and-conflicts policy and legislation being discussed in Moscow's politics added to the intrigue surrounding the rehearsal.
  5. In the heart of the city, general-news outlets reported an apparent deployment of Su-25 attack aircraft and a Chinese troop march during the rehearsal, all part of the broader discussion on policy-and-legislation and war-and-conflicts.

Read also:

Related

Latest