Russia has called off its annual Navy Day parade in St Petersburg over "security concerns".
The event, which typically showcases a procession of military vessels along the Neva River with Vladimir Putin in attendance, had been slated to go ahead as normal on Sunday - as it has done since 2017.
But Kremlin spin doctor Dmitry Peskov revealed that Putin instead had to watch a scaled-back version of events - blaming "the general situation".
Peskov added that "security reasons are of utmost importance", with the Russian premier forced to change plans last minute.
Rather than attending the traditional parade, Putin travelled by patrol speedboat to St Petersburg's historic naval headquarters, where he monitored military exercises remotely.
The drills saw more than 150 ships and 15,000 personnel conducting operations across the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Baltic and Caspian Seas.
REUTERS
|The drills saw more than 150 ships and 15,000 personnel conducting operations across the Pacific and Arctic Oceans
"Today, we are marking this holiday in a working setting, we are inspecting the combat readiness of the fleet," Putin said in a video address from the headquarters.
The last-minute change of plans meant the Russian president observed the naval activities from a secure location instead of presiding over the public spectacle in person.
Navy Day, celebrated annually on the final Sunday of July, serves as Russia's tribute to its naval forces and sailors.
The St Petersburg parade has traditionally been the centrepiece of these commemorations since its establishment eight years ago.
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GETTY
|Vladimir Putin was forced to watch proceedings from afar
Security concerns have cast doubt on the Navy Day parade before - in 2024, organisers brought in precautionary measures when Ukrainian attacks were thought to have been likely.
However, this year - amid Ukrainian drone strikes on St Petersburg - marks the first complete cancellation of the riverside spectacle.
Ukrainian unmanned aircraft targeted Russia's second city on Sunday, prompting authorities to shut down the city's airport for five hours.
In the Leningrad region encompassing St Petersburg, Russia was able to shoot down 10 drones, regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said.
The assault left one woman injured from falling debris, he added.
REUTERS
|Putin was whisked away by patrol speedboat to St Petersburg's historic naval headquarters
St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport suspended operations during the drone incursions.
In total, 57 flights were delayed, with a further 22 redirected to alternative airports. The facility reopened later on Sunday after the threat subsided.
Nationwide, Russian air defence systems intercepted 291 Ukrainian drones on Sunday, its Defence Ministry said.
This figure falls short of the record 524 unmanned aircraft shot down during attacks on May 7 this year, which preceded Russia's mass Victory Day celebrations two days later.