Russia's annual Victory Day celebrations, typically a display of national strength, are reportedly subdued this year. Ukrainian drone attacks and public weariness over the ongoing war with Ukraine have diminished the event's usual fanfare.

<img alt="A man with thinning hair sites at a desk with arms spread out." height="349" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/bfa31450-fed4-45e3-8968-94ef865298ed,1778259824025/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C203%2C3898%2C2192%29%3BResize%3D%28620%29" title="Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Rostec State Corporation CEO Sergei Chemezov during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)" width="620" /><p>Russia's V...