‘No tanks, please’: euphemisms don’t conceal Putin’s insecurity

A new euphemism has filtered into the Kremlin’s vocabulary for describing Russia’s war against Ukraine, as Moscow officially cited the “current operational situation” as a reason to forgo the display of tanks, armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and other heavy equipment during the Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May.

The event is a calendar highlight, a huge display of personnel and mil-tech in which Russia reminds the world of its decisive military strength. This year some troops will march, but without the participation of cadets from the military colleges – a staple of every Red Square parade since the Soviet era. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, military hardware has also featured heavily on the V-Day parade, the annual celebration of the “USSR’s victory over Nazi Germany”. Since 2008, heavy equipment has also featured, on Putin’s initiative.  

Russian independent media and social networks are almost unanimous in their interpretation of the…