Putin ‘physically scared for his life’ as reclusive brute massively scales back flagship parade in humiliating climbdown

Vladimir Putin is “physically scared for his life” – forcing him to scale back Russia’s flagship Victory Day Parade, an exiled critic says.

The reclusive tyrant has made a humiliating climbdown on plans for the annual event on Moscow’s Red square – fearing Ukrainian drone strikes and or being “eaten alive” by fed-up opposition.

For the first time in nearly 20 years the parade – which marks the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two – will be held without tanks, ballistic missiles or cadets.

The Kremlin has attempted to blame the embarrassing backtrack on a “terrorist threat” from Ukraine.

But prominent Putin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky told The Sun the Russian leader is terrified of being killed.

“Putin is physically scared for his life because the Ukrainian drones have demonstrated their ability to strike unexpectedly,” the businessman said.

“They present a real danger in the eyes of the Kremlin.”

The exiled Russian businessman, who spent 10 years in a Siberian prison after clashes with Putin, has emerged as a leading figure in opposition circles operating outside of Russia.

Speaking from his London office, Khodorkovsky described the “dangerous” situation Putin faces amid declining popularity and Ukraine’s advances on the battlefield.

The Kremlin has taken widespread measures to protect the parade, hauling air defence systems into the Russian capital and shutting down its mobile internet network.

Putin even declared a two day ceasefire to cover preparations on May 8, as well as the main event on May 9, warning of a “massive retaliatory strike” on Kyiv if Moscow is attacked.

Khodorkovsky said: “It is very important for Putin to hold the ceasefire without any accidents.

“But the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones so far shows that such an accident can happen.

“That is why Putin is trying to resist it both in the organisation sense, shortening the time of the parade and use of equipment, and in the diplomatic field, where he is trying to force Ukraine’s hand to avoid attacks.”

It comes after Ukraine launched a volley of targeted attacks in the heart of Russia.

On Tuesday, two people were killed and more than 30 wounded in a long-range missile and drone strike on the Russian city of Cheboksary.

A night earlier, a Ukrainian drone penetrated Moscow’s air defences and struck a luxury high-rise apartment four miles (6km) from the Kremlin.

According to Khodorkovsky, the recent strikes show that Russia’s air defence system is “not sufficient” and “cannot cover all the sensitive spots”.

The Victory Day Parade is a highlight of the Russian calendar, and a key propaganda tool of the regime.

Khodorkovsky said: “The Kremlin uses the heroic images of the Great Patriotic War to build its own legend.

“The history of the war is very important to Russia and Russians.

“He [Putin] is trying to impose this image on himself, but it is not working.”

The Kremlin has previously used the event to whip up patriotism for Russia’s war in Ukraine, but its image is faltering.

Khodorkovsky said: “Ukraine was part of that picture in the Great Patriotic War.

“My grandad died in the Great Patriotic War and there is no grave. He died defending Moscow and yet he was born in Zhitomir, Ukraine.”

Khodorkovsky said he visited The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – a major World War II memorial near the Kremlin wall – each year on May 9.

He said: “It includes steles of heroes’ cities, the cities that defended the country during the Second World War.

“Among them are Kyiv, Odessa and Kharkiv. It is very difficult for the Russian people reconcile these two things together.”

As Putin’s propaganda machine begins to show cracks, his popularity ratings are falling.

In a huge warning sign for the Kremlin leader, only 71 per cent of Russians trust their president according to state-affiliated polling institute FOM.

The drop of five per cent marked the steepest decline in popularity ratings for the dictator since 2019, analysts say.

Khodorkovsky said: “Putin’s popularity ratings are plummeting.

“He will be worried about this because his power rests on two pillars – the propaganda creating popularity for him and the intelligence services.

“If the propaganda machine fails, this will create a very dangerous situation. It will leave Putin’s power rested only on his security and intelligence services.

“And in that case they might eat him alive.”

It comes as a leaked report from a European intelligence agency claims Putin’s personal security has been dramatically stepped up.

Since the beginning of March 2026, the “Kremlin and Vladimir Putin himself have been concerned about potential leaks of sensitive information, as well as the risk of a plot or coup attempt targeting the Russian president”, the report said.

“He is particularly wary of the use of drones for a possible assassination attempt by members of the Russian political elite.”

The cowering dictator now spends weeks in an underground bunker in the Krasnodar region.

Russia expert Emil Aslan told The Sun that Putin has become “increasingly anxious” about Moscow or his secret hideout being bombed by Ukrainians.

“Ukrainians have lately shown their capability to reach Russian facilities even distant from the battlefield, so the concern is obvious.”

The scale back on Russia’s Victory Day Parade stands as a symbol of their failure on the front line, Aslan said.

“Russia is losing on the ground so there is nothing for the Kremlin to brag about.

“In the past, the Russian military was always assigned to grand tasks expected to be achieved on the eve of the parade.

“This is done to equate Putin’s Russia with Stalin’s USSR and its military success against the Nazi’s.

“None of this is in sight right now.”

The article by Claudia Lee , Foreign News Reporter. and Francesca Battaglia was first published in The Sun