www.ibtimes.co.uk/russia-shows-off-military-might-victory-day-parade-moscow-1447829www.ibtimes.com/moscow-victory-day-parade-vladimir-putin-reviews-russias-military-might-photos-1582351www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/05/09/361956/russias-putin-visits-crimea-for-parade/english.peopledaily.com.cn/90777/8623020.htmlenglish.peopledaily.com.cn/90777/8622715.htmlwww.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-2624546/PICTURED-Victory-Day-Red-Square-Crimea.html---
Day of joy and grief: Russia marks 69th Victory Day.
RT.com
May 09, 2014 03:47
Russian World War II veterans celebrate Victory Day at their traditional veterans meeting in Gorky park in central Moscow, on May 9, 2013.( AFP Photo / Andrey Smirnov)
With a mixed feeling of joy and grief, young and old are flooding the streets all across Russia and former Soviet states to commemorate those millions who sacrificed their lives to defeat the Nazi invasion 69 years ago.
Emotional embraces and red carnations are just some of the modern symbols of appreciation that thousands of veterans of the Great Patriotic War (how people in Russia and across the former Soviet states refer to the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1941-45) will receive in every corner of the biggest country on the planet.
Parades big and small will of course showcase Russia’s current military might, but first of all will honor the sacrifice of some 27 million Soviet citizens who perished during the national struggle against Nazi Germany. The main national parade, as always, is taking place in Moscow’s Red Square. More than 11,000 troops, 49 military vehicles and 69 warplanes will be on display for the spectators in the Russian capital.
The parade marathon was kicked off in Vladivostok in the far east of Russia, home to the country's Pacific Fleet. After the procession of the armed forces, an "Immortal regiment," comprised of relatives of those who died during the war, reminded the onlookers of the faces of victory, by holding up pictures of deceased veterans.
St. Petersburg, which marked the anniversary of liberation from the Siege of Leningrad this year, will also witness the parade on Palace Square followed by a procession of veterans and blockade survivors on the main artery of the city, Nevsky Prospect. Just like in Moscow and other cities across Russia, WWII-themed special exhibits will await the spectators on this truly national holiday.
In the Hero City of Sevastopol – home to the Russian Black Sea fleet in Crimea – a total of 70 warplanes and helicopters will feature during the parade on May 9. Afterward, a traditional Victory Day military parade will be held with more than 1,000 Russian navy officers and soldiers, Sevastopol's security forces and local military academies participating in it.
Throughout the day, celebrations are held for war veterans. In Moscow, open air concerts have been organized in major squares with traditional veterans’ meetings held in the city’s parks. For those eager to taste wartime food rations, a field kitchen is offering samples in the center of Moscow. Similar commemorative events are planned all across the nation.
RIA Novosti / Alexandr Kryazhev
Traditionally, a minute of silence is also observed throughout the country, at 19:00 Moscow time (15:00 GMT). It was introduced in 1965 as a way to commemorate those Soviet soldiers and civilians who died in the Great Patriotic War. The day will be concluded with spectacular displays of military salutes and fireworks.
Ukraine, which also marks the 69 anniversary of defeat over Nazi Germany, will commemorate the holiday in a more low-key way amid great tensions and a split in society. Most cities have canceled mass commemorations over fears that there may be violence from the ultra-nationalist Right Sector group, which opposes what they call a Soviet occupation and deny the historical importance of the Soviet multinational fight against the Nazi invaders. Earlier this week, Ukraine's government media watchdog urged TV channels not to include Russian war films or documentaries in their rundown.
“If possible, refrain from any mass rallies, and in the case of participation in them, do not succumb to provocations. Demonstrate tolerance to flags, slogans, and other opinions,” coup-installed Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said.
The Victory Day parade will not go ahead in Kiev, as the head of the city administration is afraid of destabilization of the capital, blaming Russia for possible unrest. Law enforcement agencies were also asking people to avoid clashes and help maintain peace. According to Bondarenko, all Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) officers have been placed on high alert. EuroMaidan paramilitary groups will also be keeping order.
In western Ukraine, traditionally more nationalist, in the cities of Ternopol and Lvov, the display of all communist symbols and nationalist insignia has been banned. Military parades have also been canceled, as well as the traditional laying of wreaths of flowers next to the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
RIA Novosti / Vitaly Belousov
Yet despite the ban, the veterans in Lvov are still planning to hold their own commemorations. The head of the Lvov veterans association, Timofei Mahanyuk, told RT that, despite the ban, he and many of the veterans will fulfill their duty and pay their respects to their fallen comrades by laying flowers at their graves.
Mahanyuk says that Lvov has become a "breeding ground for Ukrainian Nazism." He says that he and many of his veterans always face the possibility of being attacked. But despite a threat to their well-being, veterans will hold May 9 commemorations.
In the southeast of Ukraine, some Victory Day events will take place, but celebrations are expected to be more low key once darkness falls.
In Odessa, the scene of the May 2 deadly clashes, authorities will deploy over 2,000 security officers to ensure order amid fears of possible provocations. The parade has been canceled, but residents will have the opportunity to greet veterans, lay wreaths and watch firework displays.
In Lugansk, the parade and the fireworks have been canceled, but residents will have the opportunity to show respect for all those who perished during the world's bloodiest war.
RIA Novosti / Alexsey Nichukchin
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rt.com/news/157780-wwii-victory-parade-red-square/V-Day parade: Cutting edge weapons, Special Forces on Red Square (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
RT.com
May 09, 2014 07:43
T 90 tanks during the V-Day Parade on Red Square, Moscow. (RIA Novosti/Grigory Sysoev)
Russia has celebrated the 69th anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War (WWII) with a traditional May 9 military parade on Moscow’s Red Square, which featured 11,000 troops, 149 military vehicles and 69 warplanes.
The clock on the Kremlin’s Spasskaya tower rang its chimes at 10:00 AM Moscow time to signal the start of the Victory Day parade.
The right to bring out the official flag of the Russian Federation and the Victory banner this year went to the servicemen of the Preobrazhensky regiment, which has been carrying the honor guard service in Red Square for over 55 years.
The original Victory Banner is the red flag, which was mounted by Soviet troops atop the Reichstag building in Berlin on May 9, 1945 as a symbol of victory over the Nazis.
After Russia’s defense minister, Sergey Shoigu, inspected the servicemen gathered for the parade, he reported to the commander-in-chief of the Russian armed forces, the country’s president, Vladimir Putin.
"It's our country which chased the Nazis to their den, and achieved their full and final defeat, won at the cost of millions of victims and terrible ordeals. We will always guard this sacred, unfading truth, and we will not allow the heroes to be betrayed or forgotten – everyone who saved peace on the planet, not sparing oneself [from death]," Putin said.
The parade was traditionally opened by a drummer squad of the Moscow Military Musical College, who set the marching rhythm for the 11,000 participating officers and soldiers.
The infantry representing all branches of the Russian army as well as military academies have made their way across the 256 meters of Red Square at the pace of 110 to 120 steps per minute.
The inclusion of the Special Forces units has become one of the innovations of the current parade as they marched in protective uniforms providing supreme protection from all the basic types of bullets, with Val silent machine guns and VSS Vintorez sniper rifles in their hands.
Triumf S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems and Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles during a parade marking the 69th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, on Moscow's Red Square. (RIA Novosti)
GAZ -2330 ‘Tiger’ combat cars have opened the mechanized column of 149 units, which was the largest to participate in the Victory parade since the fall of Soviet Union in 1991.
The traditional participants of the May 9 celebrations – BTR- 80 and BTR-82A armored vehicles, T-90A tanks, Buk- M2, C-400 and Pantsir S1 antiaircraft missile systems, tactical Iskander-M ballistic missile systems and Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile systems – have made yet another appearance on the Red Square.
But there were also military vehicles that Russia has never showcased at the parade before, including armored KamAZ-63968 ‘Typhoon’ combat cars, Tor-M2U antiaircraft missile systems, Khrizantema-S antitank missile systems as well as 2S19M2 Msta-S modernized self-propelled artillery guns.
None of the historic vehicles from the WWII era participated in the current parade as the organizers decided to save them for the celebrations of 70th anniversary of Victory next year.
The final part of the parade was the flyover, which involved 69 planes and helicopters to match the number of years passed since the victory over Nazi Germany.
BUK-M2U surface-to-air missile systems during a parade marking the 69th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, on Moscow's Red Square. (RIA Novosti)
Su-24M and Su-34 bombers; Su-25 strike aircrafts; Su- 27 and MiG-29 fighter jets; MiG-31BM interceptors; An-22, An-124-100 and Il- 76MD military transport aircrafts; Il-78M fuel tankers; A-50 AWACS aircrafts, Tu-22M3 long-range bombers; Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers, Yak-130 combat training aircrafts took to the skies in the Russian capital.
The parade was concluded with six Su-25 strike aircrafts, which flew at an altitude of 300 meters, at a speed of 550 km/h, releasing red, white and blue smoke in the colors of the Russian flag.
Victory Day is one of the most important holidays for Russia, as it marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War on May 9, 1945.
The first parade to commemorate WWII victory was staged on Red Square on June 24, 1945, by order of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
T90 tanks during a parade marking the 69th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, on Moscow's Red Square. (RIA Novosti)
The Soviet Union paid the highest price of any nation for this victory and lost over 26 million lives in the conflict, known as the Great Patriotic War in the former USSR.
Military parades were held annually on Red Square on May 9, beginning on the 20th anniversary of the victory in 1965.
The tradition was dropped for some years after the collapse of the USSR, in the beginning of the turbulent 90s to be revived in 1995.
GAZ -2330 ‘Tiger’ combat cars (RIA Novosti)
Russian military aircraft trail smoke in the colours of the Russian tricolor above the Victory Day Parade in Moscow's Red Square May 9, 2014. (Reuters)
Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square May 9, 2014. (Reuters)
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (L) salutes during the Victory parade in Moscow's Red Square May 9, 2014. (Reuters)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (2nd R) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (R) attend a Victory Day parade at the Red Square in Moscow, on May 9, 2014. (AFP Photo)
Russian servicemen onboard self-propelled artillery vehicles salute during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow's Red Square May 9, 2014. (Reuters)
Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow's Red Square May 9, 2014. (Reuters)
Russian mobile Topol-M missile launching units drive in formation during the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square May 9, 2014. (Reuters)
Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow's Red Square May 9, 2014. (Reuters)
Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square May 9, 2014. (Reuters)
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HAVE I SAID I LOVE THIS THREAD? I thought nothing could come close to parade in Moscow, but this is awesome too!! 
Vid,
rt.com/news/157900-sevastopol-victory-day-parade/Navy, jets, air show: Sevastopol marks V-Day, 70 years of liberation from Nazis (VIDEO)
RT.com
May 09, 2014 17:52
Russian veterans march with a Soviet navy flag to mark Victory Day in the Crimean port of Sevastopol May 9, 2014. (Reuters)
The Crimean Hero City of Sevastopol celebrated Victory Day with a breath-taking air show and a huge naval parade reviewed by President Putin. 70 years from this day, the iconic Russian naval base was liberated from Nazi troops after bloody battles.
Some 150,000 people flocked to central Sevastopol on Friday to view the massive Victory Day Parade, which this year featured land, sea and air forces of Russia coming together for a big show.
WATCH FULL VIDEO OF THE PARADE:
One of the most revered places in the history of the Russian military, Sevastopol marked the special date with Russia’s commander-in-chief Vladimir Putin, who personally inspected the Naval Parade of the Black Sea Fleet. Putin arrived in the Crimean city hours after taking part in the Moscow V-Day parade.
People hold a giant Russian flag during celebrations to mark Victory Day in the Crimean port of Sevastopol May 9, 2014. (Reuters)
The celebrations come less than two months after Sevastopol rejoined Russia along with the Republic of Crimea. In the predominantly-Russian city, which for years since the collapse of the Soviet Union maintained a special and disputed status, the vast majority of residents supported accession to Russia.
More than 1,000 troops, including 11 parade battalions formed from different regiments of the Russian Navy, opened the V-Day parade in Sevastopol on Friday morning. They were accompanied by some 30 units of military hardware and 70 aircraft.
Russian servicemen during the Parade of Victors in Sevastopol. (RIA Novosti/Valery Melnikov)
In Sevastopol Bay, 10 Russian warships lined up for a big Naval Parade, including the Black Sea Fleet’s flagship, guided missile cruiser “Moskva.” The ship, which boasts the highest combat capacity among the ships of its class in the Russian Navy, was accompanied by large ASW destroyer “Kerch,” small ASW corvette “Aleksandrovets,” guided missile hovercrafts “Samum” and “Bora,” patrol ship “Pytlivyi,” minesweeper “Vice-Admiral Zhukov,” guided missile corvette R-239, guided missile corvette “Shtil” and a new generation border patrol ship “Zhemchug.”
Legendary four-masted barque “Kruzenshtern,” veteran of several transatlantic voyages and circumnavigations, also hoisted its sails for the celebrations.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) reviews ships of Russian Black Sea fleet during a visit to the Crimean port of Sevastopol on May 9, 2014. (RIA Novosti/AFP/Alexey Druzhinin)
In a massive Russian Air Force flyover, dozens of helicopters, fighter jets, bombers, transport and reconnaissance planes flew over the bay in different formations. The flyover included Mi-28 (“Havoc”) and Ka-52 Alligator battle helicopters, Su-25 (“Frogfoot”) assault jets, Su-34 (“Fullback”) fighter-bombers, Tu-95 (“Bear”) strategic bombers, MiG-29 (“Fulcrum”) and SU-27 (“Flanker”) fighter jets.
Planes from Russia's military aerobatics teams Strizhi (Swifts) and Russian Knights perform during events marking Victory Day in Sevastopol May 9, 2014. (Reuters/Maxim Shemetov)
World-famous aerobatic teams Russian Knights and Strizhi (“Swifts”) arrived to Sevastopol for a spectacular joint air show flying SU-27s and MiG-29s. Breath-taking footage of the show was being broadcasted directly from a cabin of one of the fighter jets flying in close formation.
‘A special year for Sevastopol’
Addressing residents of the city and the WWII veterans who came to celebrate the date from all over Russia, President Putin said he is “delighted to be here in the heroic Sevastopol on this sacred day, and to celebrate the most important holiday of our country together with you.”
Thanking those who defeated the Nazis seven decades ago, Putin said that the heroic deeds, the courage and valor of the veterans that are still highly revered in Crimea made a “huge moral contribution to Crimea’s and Sevastopol’s return to our homeland.”
RIA Novosti/Valery Melnikov
This year is very special for Sevastopol, Putin stressed, reminding that 230 years ago Russian Empress Catherine the Great gave it its name, 160 years ago the heroic Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol began, and 70 years ago Sevastopol was liberated from the Nazis by the Soviet troops.
Several generations of Crimeans remained “true to the memory” of those who defended the city at the cost of their lives and those who rebuilt it, and in March 2014 “confirmed their loyalty to the historical truth, to the memory of our forefathers,” Putin said.
Destroyed and rebuilt
In October-November 1941, the city of Sevastopol was attacked from land, air and sea by the invading Nazi German army and their Romanian allies. Despite unceasing bombings, in which Luftwaffe pilots made up to 600 sorties a day, dropping some 2,500 bombs on the city, and the destructive fire of the German heavy artillery, the Nazis failed to quickly take Sevastopol.
For an unbelievable 250 days, the defenders of Sevastopol repelled the attacks of the Nazis until the fortifications and the city itself were practically leveled to the ground. Soviet troops suffered tens of thousands of casualties, with the exact toll still unclear. According to Russian Security Service files, the military command evacuated from Sevastopol before its fall reported that the troops preferred to blow themselves up than to surrender, adding that “Sevastopol as a city is no more, it is destroyed.”
May 1944. Soviet soldiers rushing into Sevastopol from the Grafskaya quay. (RIA Novosti)
The heroic struggle made the city and its defenders a landmark in the Great Patriotic War and a symbol of the fight against the Nazism. The importance was well understood by the Nazis, with the commander of the occupying Nazi German forces in the city in May 1944, Karl Allmendinger, writing that “not one name in Russia is uttered with greater reverence than Sevastopol.”
Despite Hitler’s order “to hold every meter” of the city, Sevastopol was retaken by the Soviet troops in April-May 1944 after bitter fighting as part of the Crimean Offensive. The victory was a hard won one, with more than 17,700 Soviet troops killed and over 67,000 wounded in the operation.
May 1944. Soviet soldiers saluting on the embankment in honor of Sevastopol's liberation. (RIA Novosti)
Just like after the Crimean War, Sevastopol was rebuilt from ruins and grew even larger and stronger in the post-WWII years. It retained its status of the strategic Russian naval base, with its administrative part, Balaklava, remaining a “closed city” until the collapse of the Soviet Union due to a secrete submarine base.
The largest Crimean city, Sevastopol was made directly subordinate to Moscow in 1948 and kept its status despite the 1954 Crimean transfer to Ukraine by Nikita Khrushchev. In the 1990s, the status of Sevastopol became the subject of endless debates between Russia and Ukraine. Following negotiations, the city with the surrounding territories was granted a special “state significance” status within the Ukrainian state, and some of the naval facilities were leased to Russia for its Black Sea Fleet until at least 2047. However, the city’s Russian majority and some outspoken Russian politicians still considered Sevastopol to be a part of Russia.
Sevastopol.(Reuters / Yannis Behrakis)
In the March 16 referendum, the residents of Sevastopol voted together with the rest of the Crimean population to Russia, with a 90 percent voter turnout. The city and the surrounding region was accepted into the Russian Federation as a federal city – the other two Russian cities enjoying the special status being Moscow and St. Petersburg.
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Pics,
news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2014-05/09/c_133322010.htmNot seen this before, Typhoon, an APC
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Victory Day in Pictures
A Russian serviceman aboard an armored personnel carrier salutes next to the blue-white-red tricolor flag of Crimea, during the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square.
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Russia's Vladivostok stages military parade to mark Victory Day.
English.news.cn 2014-05-09 14:41:21
An officer inspects the troop during the Victory Day Parade in Vladivostok, Russia, May 9, 2014. Russia's Far East city of Vladivostok held a military parade Friday to mark the 69th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany. (Xinhua/Valery)
VLADIVOSTOK, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Far East city of Vladivostok held a military parade Friday to mark the country's defeat of German forces in World War II.
More than 30 military vehicles from the Pacific Navy paraded and some 1500 servicemen marched along Svetlanskaya Street near Vladivostok's Central Square.
Redut self-propelled anti-ship missile complexes, 9K33 Osa short-range tactical surface-to-air missile systems, S300 long range surface-to-air missile systems and 9M113 Konkurs SACLOS wire-guided anti-tank missiles took part.
The parade also marked the first public display of the S21 Gvozdika 122-mm self-propelled howitzer.
Victory Day is celebrated each year in Russia on May 9 to mark the victory in 1945 over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for World War II.
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Belarus: Lukashenko deplores situation in Ukraine in Victory Day's speech.
RuptlyTV
May 9, 2014
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko laid flowers at the Monument of Victory on Victory square in Minsk on Friday.
Speaking to the crowds, Lukashenko congratulated the Belarussian people with the holiday and paid tribute to the World War II veterans.
Commenting on the situation in Ukraine, the president expressed his concern and accused NATO of using the Ukrainian crisis to enhance its military activity close to the borders of Belarus.
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LIVE Moscow's Victory Day firework display.
RuptlyTV
May 9, 2014
An impressive set of fireworks will finish the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on Friday night.
The pyrotechnic display will be lighting up from 16 different locations around the city, to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the Russian victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
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