Authorities aligned with Russia in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol have decided to forgo this year’s Victory Day military parade, citing safety issues. This marks the third consecutive year that the city has opted to cancel the traditional festivities.

“There will be no Victory Day parade this year, as coordinated with the Defense Ministry,” stated Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev during a city meeting, according to the state-run news agency TASS.

“For obvious reasons, we will not be revealing the schedule of events,” he added.

The last Victory Day parade in Sevastopol took place in 2022, shortly following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Numerous other Russian cities have also canceled their military parades in light of increasing cross-border drone and missile assaults.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is anticipated to preside over the parade in Moscow alongside foreign dignitaries. A rehearsal for the aerial display was conducted earlier on Monday.

Putin has suggested a 72-hour ceasefire to coincide with the May 9 observances, a proposal some Ukrainian officials have criticized as an effort to protect the Red Square celebrations from potential disruptions, including drone strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he would not engage in “games” to create a favorable atmosphere for Putin’s emergence from isolation on May 9.

Zelensky further mentioned that certain countries sending leaders to Moscow had sought security guarantees, which he argued should be provided by Russia.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, accused Zelensky of posing a direct threat to the May 9 events.

Razvozhayev’s announcement followed claims by Ukraine that it had shot down two Russian Su-30 fighter jets over the Black Sea and in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia late last week.

Governor Veniamin Kondratyev of Krasnodar has also canceled his region’s Victory Day parade due to “near-nightly air raid alerts.”