In a significant move ahead of the Victory Parade, Moscow authorities have announced that all cafes and shops along the route of military equipment will be temporarily closed. This unprecedented measure will affect key areas including Tverskaya Street, parts of the Garden Ring, and Novy Arbat. The closures are scheduled to begin at 10:00 PM on May 6, 2025, and will last until 2:00 PM on May 7, 2025. A second round of closures will take place from 10:00 PM on May 8, 2025, until 2:00 PM on May 9, 2025.
The announcement came late on the evening of May 6, 2025, via the Patriarshiye Telegram channel. Journalist Arina Borodina reported that the Mayakovka district administration confirmed the full closure of the area to local businesses. "A master working at a neighboring salon immediately began calling clients to reschedule appointments originally set for May 7," Borodina shared.
From May 7 to May 9, residents can expect disruptions to mobile internet services due to the influx of delegations arriving for the events. The Main Radio Frequency Center has warned Muscovites that internet access may be restricted as part of the security measures surrounding the celebrations.
In addition to the closures of cafes and shops, some underground pedestrian crossings in the Central Administrative District and South-Eastern Administrative District will be temporarily closed on May 7, 2025. Restrictions will be in effect from 5:00 AM until the conclusion of the events, particularly affecting sections of Volgogradsky Prospekt, the Garden Ring, and Tverskaya Street.
As part of the preparations for the Victory Parade, which includes both a rehearsal on May 7 and the actual parade on May 9, several metro stations will also face operational changes. The Moscow Department of Transport has indicated that situational restrictions may be implemented at various metro stations as required by police. Specifically, from 5:30 AM on May 7, stations such as Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya, Aleksandrovsky Sad, Borovitskaya, and Arbatskaya will only allow entry and transfers, while Biblioteka Imeni Lenina will be open solely for transfers.
Amid the traffic restrictions, the Department of Transport has advised residents to utilize the metro system to navigate the city efficiently. The department emphasized that this will save time, especially with the expected increase in traffic congestion due to the arrival of foreign delegations, ongoing construction work, and minor accidents.
On May 7, major streets including Tverskaya, Solyanka, Petrovka, and Taganskaya Square will be closed to traffic, with parking prohibited in the affected areas. The closures will also extend to several central embankments, including Moskvoretskaya and Kremlevskaya, with restrictions in place until the events conclude.
Moreover, the Department has warned that from 10:00 AM on May 7, access to Tverskoy Boulevard will be restricted, alongside parts of Strastnoy Boulevard and Bolshoy Putinkovsky Pereulok. Parking in these areas will be banned until 1:00 PM on May 9, 2025.
As a precaution, the authorities have also introduced changes to the operations of car-sharing services and taxis, restricting travel in areas where military equipment will be moving. These measures will remain in effect throughout the duration of the events. Additionally, the city’s bike rental services will not permit rentals to start or end in the zones affected by the parade preparations.
On May 9, the celebration of Victory Day will see further changes to the metro operations, with additional underground pedestrian crossings closing prior to the parade. From 5:00 AM until the end of the event, crossings on Volgogradsky Prospekt, the Garden Ring, and Tverskaya Street will be unavailable. At 10:00 AM, crossings on the Garden Ring from Mayakovskaya metro station to Novy Arbat will also close.
Exits at several metro stations will be limited, with stations such as Aleksandrovsky Sad, Biblioteka Imeni Lenina, Arbatskaya, Borovitskaya, Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya, and Ploshchad Revolyutsii allowing only entry and transfers. The Department has indicated that further restrictions may be necessary on May 7 and 9, particularly at stations like Pushkinskaya, Tverskaya, Chekhovskaya, Mayakovskaya, and Lubyanka.
To manage the expected influx of attendees and ensure safety during the events, police will be present to enforce these situational restrictions at various subway stations throughout the city.
As the city gears up for the Victory Parade, residents and visitors alike are encouraged to plan their travel routes carefully and remain informed about the ongoing restrictions. The authorities are taking extensive measures to ensure public safety and smooth operations during this significant national celebration.
