The television broadcast of the annual Victory Day parade on May 9, which was supposed to be a flawless display of Russian air superiority, took an unexpected turn and raised questions when the flags of NATO and European Union countries appeared on Russian fighter jets.

As nine Su-30 and MiG-29 aircraft in their signature "Russian Knights" and "Swifts" formations flew over Red Square, state media switched from live footage to a captivating digital animation. The transition was intended to provide viewers with a fully immersive experience, but instead of the traditional Russian tricolor or red star, the computer-generated aircraft models featured the flags of Great Britain, France, Germany, Poland, Canada, Norway, Finland, Italy, Belgium, and other Western countries.

After the animation concluded, the broadcast returned to live footage of six Su-25 attack aircraft, releasing smoke in the colors of the Russian flag, concluding the air show.