Russia marked Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 on Friday. Ceremonies devoted to the 63rd anniversary of the triumph of the people, who defeated Hitler’s Germany, are being held across the country. The climax of the holiday was the military parade on Red Square in Moscow. The military parade started exactly at 10.00 Moscow time. The state flag of the Russian Federation and the banner of victory, which was raised over the German Reichstag in conquered Berlin in May 1945, were brought to Red Square with bell-ringing and musical accompaniment. Then, Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyuk inspected the troops of the Moscow garrison and reported to President Dmitri Medvedev that they were ready for the parade.
Mr Medvedev said that he had hearty congratulations for everyone on Victory Day. The holiday was and will remain forever the holiest holiday of the people and has become the symbol of Russian national unity for all time. Mr Medvedev congratulated all veterans of the Great Patriotic War and said that they did not bend their knee to the foe and gave a lesson of genuine patriotism to their descendents. Mr Medvedev emphasised the need for us to work constantly to avert military conflicts. He called on to remember the lessons of the past war and do the best to prevent such a tragedy from repeating. The President gave warnings to anyone who might try to sow ethnic or religious hatred or unleash terror and extremism, and he also spoke against the change of borders without the sanction of international law. After the address by Mr Medvedev, the national anthem of Russia was played, and it was accompanied by an artillery salvo.
The parade started with a historical element. Officers and soldiers in uniforms of the Great Patriotic War carried standards and banners of fronts, formations, and units that won glory during the war. This was followed by a parade of military units, in which about 10,000 servicemen took part. They were wearing, for the first time, new uniforms designed by the famous Russian fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin. The new uniforms are distinguished by colour depending on the branch of the armed forces or the arm of service. The main distinguishing feature of today’s Victory parade was the involvement of military hardware after an 18-year break. Among these were the T-90 main battle tank, the most advanced tank in the world, combat vehicles of the reconnaissance and parachute forces, infantry combat vehicles, and multiple artillery rocket systems. Special attention was given to the S-300 missile defence system and Iskander tactical missile system. The parade on Red Square was ended by units of Topol-M mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles, the most formidable weapon of the Russian armed forces.
The involvement of aircraft was the most striking episode of the parade. In all 32 aircraft and helicopters of the Russian air force flew over Red Square at a height of 300 metres (@1,000 feet). After three helicopters carrying the flags of Russia, the armed forces, and the air force, a group of aircraft led by the Ruslan, the world’s largest cargo plane flew over Red Square. They were followed by strategic missile carriers, long-range bombers, advanced fighter jets, and attack planes. The display of the air force was ended by the Vityazi and Strizhi aerobatic groups of the air force, who flew Su-27 and MiG-29 planes in the form of a rhombus, leaving a colourful trace.
In fact, in addressing the gathering, President Medvedev emphasised that the Russian army and navy had been gaining strength, and they would strengthen in the same proportion as Russia itself. “In their power today lies the historical glory of Russian arms, therein lies the traditions of victory and high spirit of our army”, President Medvedev said.
9 May 2008
Vyacheslav Solovyov
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=26828&cid=59&p=09.05.2008 (in English)
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