Russia Celebrates 81st Anniversary Of Victory Over Nazis (Videos, Photos)

Click to see full-size image. (Russian Ministry of Defense)

A military parade to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s Victory over Nazi Germany in World War II took place on Moscow’s Red Square on May 9.

The Soviet Union bore the brunt of the war, losing an estimated 27 million people in what became known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.

The parade began with a march of the banner group of the Preobrazhensky Regiment Honor Guard’s unit carrying the Russian national flag and the legendary Victory Banner across Red Square. The Victory Banner was hoisted over the Reichstag by soldiers of the 150th Idritskaya Rifle Division overnight to May 1, 1945.

It was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, war veterans, guests and foreign leaders, including Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Defense Minister Andrey Belousov reviewed the parade, which was commanded by Ground Forces Commander-in-Chief, Hero of Russia Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev.

About 1,000 Russian combatants of the special military operation, among them 17 Heroes of Russia, also marched ceremoniously across the cobblestones of Red Square during the Victory Day parade.

For the first time ever, a military contingent from North Korea took part in the military parade on Moscow’s Red Square alongside Russian troops.

During the aviation part of the parade, pilots of Russkiye vitayzi and Strizhi aerobatic teams flew over Red Square as part of nine Su-30 and Mig-29 aircraft. Six Su-25 aircraft painted the skies of Moscow in the colors of the Russian flag.

A video highlighting the operations of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, including the Unmanned Systems Forces, in the special military operation zone in Ukraine was shown for the first time during the parade broadcast on Red Square in Moscow. The video included footage of the latest Geran-5 jet-powered suicide drone.

Addressing the military parade, Putin said that his soldiers in Ukraine were fighting an “aggressive force” backed by all of NATO, and that the Russian army’s cause was “just.”

“The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today,” Putin said, referring to the special military operation in Ukraine.

“They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc. And despite this, our heroes move forward,” he continued, adding later: “I firmly believe that our cause is just.”

Smaller military processions and commemorative events were held across the country earlier in the day, honoring the millions who gave their lives to defeat Nazi Germany.

In the Primorsky region, more than 1,000 troops and civilians took part in the military parade in the central square of Ussuriysk.

Meanwhile, the main parade on the territory of the Eastern Military District took place in Khabarovsk in Khabarovsk Krai. More than 2,600 people marched on the square of the regional capital.

A military parade was also held on the central street of the seaside capital city of Vladivostok. Servicemen, who took part in the special military operation and received state awards, were presented in each of the parade units.

A parade of troops of the Chita garrison was held in Zabaykalsky region’s capital to mark the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. About 1,700 people marched on the main square of Chita.

In addition, a parade of troops of the Ulan-Ude garrison was held in the capital of Buryatia. Traditionally, under the music of Aleksandrov’s song ‘The Sacred War’, a Colour Guard of the Honour Guard Company brought to the square the State flag of the Russian Federation and the Victory Banner.

More than 1,600 people marched on the main square of the Ural capital, Ekaterinburg. Military equipment from WW II took part.

In Samara, more than 1,300 people took part in the event, including servicemen of motorised rifle formations of the Central Military District, cadets of military institutions, units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Federal Bailiff Service, as well as the Volga Military Cossack Society.

And in Kaliningrad, T-34 tanks took part in Fortress of Konigsberg assault lead mechanised column during the military parade in the city’s Victory Square.

Eleven parade units marched on the main square of Hero City in Tula. In total, more than 1,000 people took part in the parade.

It’s worth noting that commemorations in several European countries, including Germany, have been subjected to restrictions on Soviet and Russian symbols, such as flags and St. George ribbons. Moscow has condemned the bans as an attempt to erase the memory of the Soviet Union’s leading role in defeating Nazism.

Moscow announced a two-day ceasefire starting May 8 to coincide with the Victory Day commemorations, but Ukraine initially resisted. However, United States President Donald Trump later declared that Kiev had agreed to a ceasefire from May 9 to 11.

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