Report: Russia revokes all foreign press credentials for Victory Day parade

Source: Der Spiegel

Russian authorities stripped journalists from all foreign news outlets of their press credentials for the Victory Parade, the German publication Der Spiegel reported on the evening of May 7.

Der Spiegel’s own accreditation was revoked by phone. A Kremlin representative told the outlet that “due to the current situation, the format of parade coverage has been changed,” and that only representatives of Russian media would be admitted.

It is the first time in the history of the May 9 parades that Russian authorities have mass-revoked credentials that had already been issued, the publication noted.

Update. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Der Spiegel was providing “incorrect, false information.” He confirmed that a limited number of journalists had been accredited for the parade, but stressed that among them were representatives of “international media outlets that regularly cover the work of the President of the Russian Federation.” “There has not been a single case of anyone being stripped of accreditation,” Peskov said.

The Victory Parade in 2026 will be held in a reduced format due to the threat of Ukrainian drone attacks. Military hardware will not appear at the parade for the first time since 2007.

The Telegram channel Yozh (Hedgehog), citing sources at Channel One, reported that the broadcast would air on a delay.

Mobile internet will be cut off in Moscow on May 9. Authorities said the measure was necessary to ensure security at the Victory Day celebrations.

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