IRIA News

Russia has staged its biggest military parade, marking 70 years since victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two

Thousands of Russian troops marched across Red Square under the eye of Vladimir Putin on Saturday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s World War II victory over Nazi Germany.

An estimated 200 pieces of military hardware including intercontinental ballistic missile carriers and 16,500 troops are expected to file past the Kremlin, as 27 world leaders join Mr Putin for the events.

In his opening speech, President Putin paid tribute to the sacrifices of Soviet troops during World War Two. He also thanked “the people of Great Britain, France and the United States for their contribution to victory”.

But he added: “In recent decades the basic principles of international co-operation have been ignored ever more frequently. We see how a military-bloc mentality is gaining momentum.”

The remarks echo previous complaints by Mr Putin about what he says are efforts by the US and its Nato allies to encircle Russia militarily.

A BTR-82A armored personnel carrier and A Pantsir-S / SA-22 Greyhound self-propelled surface-to-air missile system at the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War. (RIA Novosti/Anton Denisov)

Meanwhile, at a wreath-laying ceremony in Kiev, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko condemned Russia’s portrayal of his government as fascist over the past year.

“Obviously this is done with one aim alone – to justify… the Russian aggression against Ukraine.”

Military units from across Russia – some dressed in WW2-era uniforms – marched, and more than 100 aircraft flew over Red Square.

Russia has staged a huge parade marking 70 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two. The Soviet Union suffered the heaviest casualties in the Great Patriotic War – as Russia calls the carnage of 1941-1945.

Chinese troops marched in the Russian Victory Day annual parade for the first time in 2015.

Armata tanks, nuclear bombers, international boots in Moscow for Victory Day

Troops from all arms of the service were lined up on Red Square. Those include young cadets from Suvorov military school and visiting foreign troops from 10 countries. Inspecting the ranks, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin, who is Commander-in-Chief of the Russian armed forces, that the troops are ready for the parade to start.

A minute of mourning followed to commemorate victims of the war: soldiers killed in battles, members of resistance movements, prisoners of deaths camps, civilians who perished to the hardships of sieges and wartime.

The S-400 Triumf, Russia’s most-advanced long-range defense system, which has no equal in the world now, came next.

The ‘shield’ part progressed into the ‘sword’ component. Yars nuclear ICBM missile mobile launchers are a crucial component of Russia’s future nuclear deterrence.

Representatives from the Ground Forces, the Air Forces, the Navy, the Marines, the Strategic Missile Forces, the Air and Space Defense Forces, the Air Defense Forces, the Airborne Troops marched one by one across the Red Square, standing for all regular arms and branches of the Russian armed forces.

Military specialists from troops involved in railroad transportation and biochemical warfare were followed by troops not under Defense Ministry command: Interior troops, Emergencies Ministry troops and Border Service guards marched.

Tigr and Kornet D armored vehicles were the first hardware currently in service rolled out then after which came infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers.

Advanced BMD 4M and Rakushka vehicles came next. The newest APCs, Kurganets, of the airborne troops were demonstrated for the first time during the parade.

T90A main battle tanks, one of the newest in the Russian army, came next. Their successor, Armata-based T-14 tanks, which will become the backbone of the Russian armored forces, rolled through the square.

Highlights of the Parade

In a sign of closer ties between Russia and China, a column of Chinese troops marched in Moscow for the first time.

Another major highlight of the parade was the new, hi-tech Armata battle tank, which has a remote-controlled gun turret and reinforced capsule for the crew, as well as the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles – each capable of delivering three nuclear warheads.

VIPs at the Russian Parade

Chinese President Xi Jinping was the guest of honour at at the grand annual Russian parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s World War II victory over Nazi Germany. On the eve of the parade, Xi and Putin signed a raft of deals to cement closer ties, including a promise from China to offer up to $25 billion to Russian companies who are facing an economic crisis at home.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (3L) watch the Victory Day parade at Red Square in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2015.

Chinese President, President Pranab Mukherjee of India and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon were among more than 20 world leaders watching the event.

Other VIPs included the presidents of India, Egypt, and South Africa, Central Asian leaders, and longstanding Russian friends like Cuba and Venezuela.

Most Western leaders stayed away in protest at Russia’s actions in Ukraine, sending their ambassadors to the parade instead.

Military units from across Russia – some dressed in WW2-era uniforms – marched, and more than 100 aircraft flew over Red Square.