Impressive Parade in Moscow’s Red Square on Victory Day (+photos)

The commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War —term given by the Soviets to the struggle against Germany during the Second World War—, started in Russia with parades in 27 different cities.

Among the several events scheduled all over the country, the Victory Parade at Moscow’s Red Square is definitely the most important. The ceremony was presided over by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and attended by official delegations from nearly 70 countries, the one headed by Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz among them.

For the first time in the commemorations for the end of the Second World War in Moscow, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the fallen. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who highlighted the role of the Soviet Army in the defeat of Nazi Germany, was in charge of calling for one minute of silence.

Before thousand guests and war veterans, Putin said that “Hitler’s adventure was a horrible lesson for the whole international community”, and added that “now, 70 years later, history appeals again to our sense and our surveillance. We mustn’t forget that the idea of racial supremacy and exclusivity led to the bloodiest of wars”.

The parade was started with the historic banner of the victory, and the Russian flag, and was led by Russian Defense Minister, Serguéi Shoigu.

The parade was started with the historic banner of the victory, and the Russian flag, and was led by Russian Defense Minister, Serguéi Shoigu.

Twenty-seven heads of state and government were present, such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, along with Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, and Nicolás Maduro, from Egypt and Venezuela, respectively.

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon was also present at the huge military parade with 16 000 soldiers, in which Russia exhibited its modern weapons like the Armata T-14 tank, considered of the most powerful of the world, or the nearly 50-tons intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The military parade was followed by over 160 000 people, who marched holding photos of their parents or grandparents.

Source: http://www.cubadebate.cu. Translated by Escambray.

Photos taken from http://www.cubadebate.cu