Russia has canceled its largest annual defense forum, Army-2025, which had been scheduled to take place on August 11-14 in Patriot Park near Moscow.

The event, organized by the Russian Ministry of Defense since 2015, has served not only as a military-industrial exhibition, but also as an ideological platform. In an exhibition format and with the involvement of media and spectators, the forum aimed to showcase the “successes” of Russia’s armed forces and the “achievements” of its defense industry.

Last year’s forum featured captured and destroyed Western-made equipment from the war in Ukraine and was used to promote the narrative that Russia remains internationally engaged, attracting guests from countries interested in Russian military technology.

This year, however, the forum will be held “only for specialists,” according to its official website. 

Why did this happen this year? No official reason for the cancellation of the public program has been given, but Russian Telegram channels have reported in recent weeks that the move was being considered due to persistent threats of Ukrainian long-range drone attacks on Moscow and the surrounding region.

A pro-war Russian Telegram channel commented, “Why tempt fate and risk embarrassment by holding the forum under the sound of sirens and air defense fire?”

The decision follows a similar postponement of the MAKS international air show, which was originally scheduled for summer 2025 but has now been moved to 2026.