Foreign media excluded as Russia narrows Victory Day narrative control

The Kremlin has revoked accreditation for major foreign media outlets ahead of Russia’s May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, leaving only domestic state broadcasters to cover one of the country’s most significant annual events.

Foreign journalists who had already received official approval were reportedly informed by telephone that their permits had been cancelled. According to reports in German magazine Spiegel, outlets including ARD, ZDF, Sky News, AFP, Rai and NHK have been excluded.

A Kremlin official is said to have linked the decision to a change in the “format” of coverage due to the current situation, adding that “only Russian media outlets are now permitted” to report from Red Square.

The move marks the first known instance in which foreign journalists have been granted accreditation for the Victory Day parade only to have it withdrawn shortly before the event, raising further questions over press access at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.

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The restrictions come as Moscow prepares for a noticeably scaled-back commemoration of the Soviet victory in the Second World War. This year’s parade is expected to feature marching units but no heavy military hardware on display, a departure from previous years’ more expansive military showcases.

Attendance is also expected to be more limited. In contrast to last year’s 80th anniversary event, which the Kremlin said was attended by 29 foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, this year’s guest list has been significantly reduced.

Among those still expected to attend are Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and a small number of leaders from allied or aligned states, as well as representatives of Russian-backed breakaway territories.

The Kremlin has also invited figures, including Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska, as well as leaders from Abkhazia and South Ossetia, regions recognised by Moscow but not widely acknowledged internationally.

The event is being held under heightened security conditions, with Russian authorities warning of possible disruptions in the capital. Mobile network operators have reportedly alerted residents to potential interruptions to internet and SMS services during the commemorative period.

At least 15 Russian regions are said to have cancelled local Victory Day parades, while Russian-installed authorities in occupied Crimea have also scrapped public events, citing security concerns.

The tightening of media access and scaling back of public displays comes at a sensitive moment for the Kremlin, as Victory Day remains one of the most symbolically important dates in Russia’s political calendar. Traditionally used to project national unity and military strength, this year’s celebrations appear increasingly shaped by security considerations and control over narrative.

While the parade is expected to proceed as planned on Red Square, the absence of international media — and the reduction in ceremonial scale — underscores how carefully the event is being managed amid heightened external and internal pressure.