Victory Day military parades cancelled in several Russian regions bordering Ukraine, UK says

Leaders of several Russian regions bordering Ukraine, as well as in occupied Crimea, have cancelled their 9 May Victory Day military parades, according to Ministry of Defence (MOD) intelligence.

The MOD's latest update on the situation in Ukraine said that the events had "likely primarily been called off because of security concerns near the border, as officials have claimed".

But parades are going ahead in some Russian cities further away from the war zone, the update added.

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'Sensitive communications challenge'

The MOD added that the different approaches across cities "highlight a sensitive communications challenge for the Kremlin".

This is because Russian President Vladimir Putin "couches the 'special military operation' in the spirit of the Soviet experience in World War Two", they said.

The MOD said: "The message risks sitting increasingly uneasily with the many Russians who have immediate insights into the mismanaged and failing campaign in Ukraine.

"Honouring the fallen of previous generations could easily blur into exposing the scope of the recent losses, which the Kremlin attempts to cover up."

Russia's Victory Day is held annually on 9 May and marks the country's victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

Every year, Russia celebrates the day with a military parade, with Russian leaders traditionally watching the event from the tomb of Vladimir Lenin in Red Square, Moscow.