Victory Day Parade to take place in Russia amid war with Ukraine

Russia will celebrate Victory Day on Monday even as the Russia-Ukraine war enters its third month. Speculation is rife about what President Putin would say in his address. Putin’s address to the nation on Victory Day is expected to be the most watched event in the country.

The Victory Day Parade is one of the most significant events in Russia. Held on May 9, it marks the end of World War II in Europe with the defeat and surrender of Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945.

Moscow and many parts of Russia and Russian captured territories, including Mariupol, are going to witness celebrations of ‘Victory Day’ or what is locally called the ‘Patriotic War’. The streets in all these parts have been decorated with Russian and the Soviet Victory flags (The Red Banner), reasserting the idea of the Soviet Union and how everybody fought Nazism as one entity.

The annual Victory Day parade will take place in Moscow’s Red Square on the morning of May 9. Authorities have restricted movement on numerous roads and local traffic will be intermittently suspended until the end of the day or till the next day.

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President Vladimir Putin is expected to use the occasion as a means to promote patriotic unity and showcase the country’s military might. Among the pro-war additions this year, a group of fighter jets is expected to fly over central Moscow in the shape of a “Z”, a popular symbol of support for Russian troops in Ukraine.

While the number of planes expected to take part in the Moscow flypast is slightly higher than last year, media reports suggest that the numbers of infantry and equipment are lower. According to information published on Friday by Russia’s defense ministry, there will be only 129 military vehicles and 10,000 personnel this year, as compared to 191 military vehicles and about 12,000 military personnel in 2021.

In total, 11,000 people, 131 units of industrial and special equipment and 77 aircraft and helicopters will take part in the parade.

THE IMMORTAL REGIMENT MARCH

After the Victory Day Parade in Red Square, the Bessmertniy Polk or the ‘The Immortal Regiment’ march takes place across major cities in Russia. It is a massive civil event where people walk in a procession holding banners, placards, etc, to remember those who laid down their lives in WWII.

THE TECHNIQUE

The first in the mechanised column of the Victory Parade on May 9 will be the legendary T-34 tank. In the sky, Muscovites and guests of the capital will see the Il-80 air control centre, which is also called the Doomsday Aircraft. Also, the 5th generation Su-57 fighters and the strategic missile carriers Tu-95MS and Tu-160 “White Swan” paired with the “air tanker” Il-78 will take part in the air show.

And finally, nine aircraft of the Russian Knights and Swifts aerobatic teams will line up in the Cuban Diamond combination, and six Su-25 attack aircraft will paint the sky in the colours of the Russian flag.

All flights are performed at an altitude of 180 to 550 metres and a speed of 200 to 550 km/h.

CITY DECKED-UP

The largest celebration of Victory Day will traditionally be held in Moscow. On the eve of May 9, the city is festively decorated. Flags, decorative structures, themed stands and greeting cards appear on the streets. The main colour for decorating the city is red.

WHEN DOES IT START

The distribution of commemorative symbols is always done by volunteers. They can be found a few weeks before Victory Day in parks, district centres, squares and near major metro transfer stations. You can take the ribbon for free. Along with the ribbons, volunteers will distribute leaflets, on one side of which the history of the St George’s ribbon will be posted, and on the other, recommendations and rules for wearing it. In Moscow, the St George Ribbon campaign started at the end of April 2022 and will continue until May 9.

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