St. Petersburg Cancels Major Naval Parade Amid Security Threats

The authorities in St. Petersburg have decided to cancel this year’s main naval parade in Russia due to safety concerns, as reported by the local news outlet Fontanka on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the situation.

The traditional Navy Day parade is typically held in St. Petersburg, home to Russia’s Baltic Fleet, on the last Sunday of July. Smaller versions of the parade also occur in Vladivostok and Kaliningrad.

Originally set for July 27 this year, the event will now be scaled back to include only a wreath-laying ceremony and some public celebrations on Palace Square, sources indicated to Fontanka.

Preparations for the parade had been stopped before any rehearsals took place, according to the report.

City officials have not yet provided any official confirmation regarding the cancellation.

The 2024 St. Petersburg Navy Day parade occurred on July 28, but some components planned for the nearby port city of Kronstadt were also called off due to security issues.

At that time, reports indicated that Russian security services had warned of a potential attack on the naval vessels participating in the parade.

The New York Times mentioned that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had two phone conversations with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov after Russian intelligence alerted them about possible covert operations by Ukraine around the planned parade.

Reportedly, the warning prompted Austin to reach out to Ukrainian officials to advise them against any possible attacks.

The annual Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg was inaugurated in 2017.