MOSCOW (SW): The Russian Federation celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s World War II victory over Nazi Germany on Saturday by staging the largest Victory Day parade since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Not many world leaders attending the event due to Russia’s role in the Ukraine conflict. Moscow had invited nearly 70 heads of state to the parade, including U.S. President Barack Obama and European leaders, almost all of whom boycotted the parade.
This year, Russian President Vladimir Putin was flanked by Chinese Premier Xi Jinping. Other VIPs included the presidents of India, Egypt, and South Africa, Central Asian leaders, and longstanding Russian friends like Cuba and Venezuela.
“We have seen attempts to create a unipolar world. We see how military-bloc thinking is gaining force. All this undermines the sustainability of global development,” Mr. Putin said in clear reference to the NATO.
“Our common goal should be the development of a system of equal security for all governments. System adequate [to deal with] modern threats, built on regional and global nonaligned bases. Only then can we ensure peace and tranquility in the world,” he said.
The Russian President thanked Great Britain, France and the U.S. for their efforts in defeating Nazi Germany. He also held for the first time a moment of silence for fallen soldiers and veterans who had passed away.
Russia’s new T-14 Armata tanks, which feature an unmanned turret with remote-controlled machine gun, Typhoon-U all-terrain armored vehicles, SU-27 and MIG-29 military jets, BUK-M2 medium-range battlefield surface-to-air missile systems and strategic ballistic missile RS-24 Yars launching vehicle were also on show during the celebrations.
The parade featured more than 140 warplanes and helicopters and almost 200 tanks, vehicles and missiles. Chinese troops marched alongside Russian troops and other soldiers from former Soviet republics who traditionally participate in the event.
On 22 June 1941, Nazi German troops invade Soviet Union, despite 1939 non-aggression pact. During the winter of 1942-43, the German advance was blocked at Stalingrad, south Russia – about two million soldiers and civilians die in long battle. Next year, Soviet offensive spreads across Eastern Europe as German troops retreated. On 21 April 1945 Soviet troops entered Berlin and on 30 April 1945 Adolf Hitler committed suicide.
ENDS
