An unusual mistake made by an AI was observed during the live broadcast of Russia’s annual Victory Day military parade. The incident occurred as elite Russian Air Force pilots performed their traditional flypast, with fighter jets carrying flags of NATO and European member nations, such as the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, and Norway.
The mishap took place during the flypast by the Russian Knights (Russkiye Vityazi) and Swifts (Strizhi) aerobatic teams, a highly anticipated moment of the parade on Moscow’s Red Square commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.
Russian fighter jets, including MiG-29s, Su-30SMs, and Su-25s, flew over the square in their distinctive Cuban Diamond formation, releasing smoke in the colors of the Russian flag. State media utilized a combination of live cameras and AI-generated footage to offer viewers a detailed view of the jets.
President Vladimir Putin, in power for over a quarter of a century, has consistently utilized Victory Day as a platform to exhibit Russia’s military strength and garner support for the conflict in Ukraine.
Security was stringent in Moscow as Putin and various foreign dignitaries attended the parade, with security personnel carrying black bags believed to contain fold-out bulletproof shields, along with the “Cheget” nuclear briefcase seen near the Russian president.
This year’s parade was notably scaled down, with no tanks, missiles, or heavy weaponry other than the flypast, a departure from the usual display seen in the past two decades. The Russian Defence Ministry attributed the change in format to the “current operational situation” and cited the threat of potential Ukrainian actions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously mentioned concerns about potential drone disruptions during the celebrations. In response to Donald Trump’s ceasefire announcement, Zelensky humorously authorized Russia to hold its Victory Day festivities and declared Red Square temporarily off-limits to Ukrainian strikes.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Zelensky’s decree as a “silly joke,” asserting Russia’s right to commemorate Victory Day without permission. Peskov later confirmed that no security threats were identified during the parade, stating that everything proceeded smoothly.
