Terrified Putin cancels huge public event as he fears ‘assassination’ | World | News

This is often one of the most important moments of the year for Putin; but he obviously believes the risk of assassination is too high. “As of June 15, no presidential decree has been issued regarding the holding of the main naval parade,” a source told news outlet Fontanka. “No naval deployment to St Petersburg is planned.” The move follows Ukraine’s two attacks this month on Kronstadt, a naval base that serves as the headquarters of the Russian Baltic Fleet and plays a key role in the parade.

The decision on the Navy Day parade shows Putin’s distrust of air defense and comes at the same time as Ukraine’s daily successes in targeting areas deep inside Russia.

The parade was scaled back in 2024 but still included 200 ships and other ships and 15,000 military personnel. It was canceled last year for “security reasons”.

Last month, Putin went ahead with his other major annual Victory Day military parade in Moscow’s Red Square after Ukraine agreed not to attack. But such a promise was unlikely to be made at the naval parade following the dictator’s open refusal to agree to a full ceasefire and peace talks.

Fontanka reported today: “No orders were received from above [to plan the event]”But preparations should be in full swing by now.”

“As you can imagine, it’s not the right time,” a marine source said.

Starting in 2017, Putin organized the massive, modern St Petersburg Sea Day parade, modeled on the tsarist traditions of the Russian Empire.