No internet, no flights, no cash: Moscow prepares for May 9 parade under tight restrictions
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Moscow will "celebrate" May 9 with internet disabled, non-working cash machines, and closed airports — all for the sake of the "security" of the parade and its organizer personally.
RBC-Ukraine has collected everything known about restrictions in Moscow during the "celebration" of May 9.
Main points:
- Parade guests: leaders of seven countries will attend, most from unrecognized entities.
- Putin: hiding in a bunker due to fear of drone assassination attempt.
- Kremlin: closed to visitors during the parade.
- Airports: all Moscow airports are closed — Carpet plan introduced.
- Cash machines: cash withdrawals may not work due to a network shutdown.
- Internet and communication: in Moscow, mobile internet and SMS will be disabled for five days.
At the May 9 parade in Moscow, there will be no military equipment for the first time — Putin, it seems, cannot afford this. Several leaders of foreign states will come to show, but most of them are from unrecognized entities or post-Soviet space.
Participation confirmed:
- Self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko;
- Head of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev;
- President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov;
- Heads of unrecognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia — Badra Gunba and Alan Gagloev;
- Leader of the ruling party of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik.
Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico will be in Moscow on May 9 and will meet with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, but does not plan to attend the parade.
No internet and SMS
Mobile operators sent messages to residents of Moscow with a warning: from May 5 to May 9, disruptions in mobile internet and SMS are possible.
"To ensure security measures in Moscow, temporary restrictions on mobile internet and SMS services are possible during the preparation and holding of festive events from May 5 to May 9," a message from operators says.
Most severe restrictions are expected on May 5, 7, and 9. They will disable:
- All mobile internet;
- Sending of SMS;
- Even so-called white lists — sites that are usually allowed even in Russia.
The shutdown will cover not only the center, but the entire Moscow within the ring road. Operators advised to use Wi-Fi and voice calls via VoLTE.
Taxi services and all services where it was possible to pay cashless also do not work.
Warning in Russian public transport (photo: Telegram)
Cash machines already not working
Many cash machines in Moscow are connected to the network via mobile connection, not wired internet.
Failures in their operation are already recorded. In public groups, there are even fears that a shortage of money will arise.
No airport accepts flights, and the Kremlin will be closed
All Moscow airports stopped operations due to the introduction of the Carpet plan. Flights are not accepted and are not sent.
During the "celebration," the Kremlin will be completely closed. Tourists and visitors will not be allowed.
Preparation for "celebration" is already underway — command is taking the most experienced military from near Kostyantynivka to show them at the May 9 show in Moscow.
Recently, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, warned that Ukrainian drones may fly over the May 9 parade.
"Russia has announced a May 9 parade in Moscow without military equipment. If that happens, it will be the first time in many, many years. They cannot afford military equipment – and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square," the president says.
Since the beginning of March 2026, intelligence of one of the European Union countries has recorded an increase in paranoia in the Kremlin.
Putin fears leaks of information, conspiracy theories, and a drone assassination attempt from representatives of his own elite. Federal Protective Service, not Federal Security Service as previously believed, stands behind mass internet shutdowns in Moscow.
