Britain explained why Russia changed its mind about holding events on 9 May

Russia announces the cancellation of parades for May 9. There will be no fireworks and processions of the "Immortal Regiment". Russians are offered to hang portraits of dead relatives on cars and in public places from 1 to 11 May. Most regions explain the cancellation of festivities by the "safety of citizens". At the same time, British intelligence believes that the authorities are afraid not only of drone attacks, but also that the parades could become a platform for citizens' discontent with politics and war. This is what Britain's Ministry of Defence wrote on Twitter.

This year's Victory Day is preceded by Putin's inauguration on 7 May. The Russian leadership's calculations may also have been influenced by the potential for protests and expressions of discontent against Ukraine, the intelligence agency said.

It is known that events for 9 May have already been cancelled in Bryansk, Pskov, Belgorod, Ryazan and Kursk regions.

Russians in the regions fear Ukrainian attacks," the Defence Ministry points out.

The parade was also cancelled in annexed Crimea. As Sergey Aksyonov, who calls himself the head of Crimea, wrote in his Telegram channel, "this is due to security issues.

We would like to add that in Orenburg, which suffered from flooding, the parade was not cancelled. It will also take place in Moscow, but as part of a significantly reduced programme.