Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, marking the historic defeat of Nazi Germany 75 years ago, culminated in a show of military prowess both in and over Moscow’s Red Square.
Originally scheduled for May 9 but postponed due to coronavirus, the annual military event began on Wednesday morning, unfolding in front of war veterans, foreign dignitaries, and Russian VIPs.
Troops from India, China, Serbia, Mongolia, alongside a constellation of ex-Soviet nations whose people helped win the shared victory, marched through the iconic Red Square.
On display was a host of restored T-34s – the renowned workhorse of the Soviet Army’s armored corps, and one of the best tanks of the time.
Retro hardware aside, there were novelties too. An upgraded version of the T-90, fitted with a new turret and battle gear, rolled through the center of Moscow.
Another newcomer was the Tosochka – a lighter yet more powerful variant of the heavy TOS-1 flamethrower. The latter was not missing during the grand event either.
The T-14 Armata, the Russian military’s most advanced main battle tank, was also present, as were the next-generation infantry-fighting vehicles and self-propelled howitzers.
Rocket launchers big and small, ranging from air defense systems to the heavy Yars ICBM carrier, made an appearance as well.
Unlike the 2019 Victory Day parade, when bad weather prohibited the much-awaited aerial flypast over Moscow, this year’s edition featured a massive air show that started shortly after the armored column passed.
The main star was the Su-57 – a secretive stealth fighter jet set to enter service with the air force in the near future. The aircraft, already tested during the anti-terrorism campaign in Syria, will replace the older-generation Su-35 and Su-30, which also graced the skies over Moscow today in great numbers.
Heavyweights such as the iconic Tu-95 and Tu-160 also flew over Red Square. The latter is about to get a crucial upgrade, allowing it to meet the high demands of 21st-century warfare.
The 2020 celebration’s new date of June 24 appears to have been chosen in a symbolic reference to a one-of-the-kind victory parade held in 1945 on a decree from Stalin. That historic event featured troops immediately after their return from a defeated Germany. Many of them had survived the bloodiest battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, as well as campaigns to liberate Eastern Europe.
Smaller Victory Day parades have also taken place in Russia’s other major cities. However, the authorities elsewhere limited the size of their festivities, citing health concerns. In Moscow, meanwhile, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged residents to watch the parade on television or online, warning that the pandemic isn’t over yet.
