What was Steven Seagal doing at Vladimir Putin's big Victory Day celebration? Here's what reports are saying

American actor Steven Seagal was seen at Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow, seated alongside the Night Wolves biker club.

The Hollywood star, who has been a close friend of Vladimir Putin, appeared on state television briefly, drawing attention amidst a show of military might and tense geopolitical overtones.

The 1990s Hollywood action star was featured in state-controlled footage of the parade. The parade marked the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat, with world leaders and sophisticated Russian weaponry on display.

What role does Seagal play in Russian politics now?

Steven Seagal was one of the guests who stood out from the crowd as dozens of world leaders who support Russia gathered in Moscow to honour its military, according to state media.

During the state media outlet Izvestia's coverage of Russia's Victory Day, Seagal made a brief appearance in close-up between shots of armoured vehicles thundering down the cobbled streets close to the Kremlin, as per a report by Business Insider.

Over the weekend, a different video of the movie martial artist navigating the crowd on Friday also went viral on social media.

According to a Moscow-based report by the French news agency Agence France-Presse, Seagal was spotted sitting close to the Night Wolves, a Russian nationalist motorcycle gang.

Seagal, who became a citizen of Russia in 2016, has been outspoken in his support for Moscow and has been a long-time supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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In order to promote Russian culture in the United States, Russia's foreign ministry appointed Seagal as a special representative in 2018. Seagal continued to openly support the Kremlin following its invasion of Ukraine.

Who else from the West showed up in Moscow?

He wasn't the only well-known figure from American cinema who went to the parade on Friday. Photographers at the event included Oliver Stone, a three-time Oscar winner and the director of a four-hour documentary about Putin, as per a report by Business Insider.

Their participation in the parade demonstrates how Russia aimed to increase the event's opulence in honour of the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's World War II surrender.

A few world leaders, primarily from nations in central Asia and eastern Europe, had shown up to watch the event.

However, Moscow put on a show for the approximately two dozen leaders who attended, including Xi Jinping of China, on Friday.

Although Ukraine threatened Moscow with multiple waves of attempted drone strikes that temporarily closed nearby airports, the parade was supposed to be a show of Russia's military might and confidence.

What happened at this year’s Victory Day parade?

This year, Russia aimed to restore its military grandeur in its previously subdued Victory Day parades.

The appearance of contemporary tanks, fighter jets, and drones made that clear. Su-25 fighter jets roared over central Moscow with coloured smoke, while modern T-90 main battle tanks, Tornado-S multiple rocket launchers, and Iskander and Yars ballistic missiles wheeled past a raft of cameras on the street.

Russian attack drones were also included in the procession for the first time, as per a report by Business Insider.

FAQs

Why did Steven Seagal attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow?
He is a known Putin supporter who was invited as part of Russia's cultural diplomacy.

Who was the biker gang that Steven Seagal was sitting with?
The Night Wolves, a Russian nationalist group with ties to the Kremlin.