Russia held a military parade. The weather was playing havoc with it, the tank was just historical

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said before the start that over 9,000 people would participate in the parade and 75 pieces of various types of combat equipment would be displayed.

The technology parade traditionally started with the passage of the T-34 tank, followed by the Tigr M all-terrain vehicles. However, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles were absent, just like last year. Only wheeled transporters appeared on the Boomerang platform. Mainly armored Ural or Kamaz 4×4 cars were visible, which again gives the impression that all functional ground technology is deployed on the front and cannot be presented.

On the contrary, there was no lack of rocket technology. Vehicles carrying Iskander tactical ballistic missiles, missiles of the S-400 Triumf air defense system, or vehicles carrying JARS strategic ballistic missiles, which form the core of Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces, were shown. It is not clear whether they were transporting rockets.

The end of the parade belonged to the Air Force. Combat aircraft of aerobatic groups Russkiye winners flying on Su-30SM and Striž on MiG-29 machines flew over together. The conclusion belonged to six Su-25 fighters, which released smoke in the colors of the Russian tricolor. The helicopters did not fly.

In Moscow, where it is cold, there were low clouds and rain and snow for most of the morning. Temperatures hovered around zero.

Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Moscow time (8:30 a.m. CET), the highest representatives of political and church life, such as Dmitry Medvedev or Sergey Lavrov and others, arrived at the stands.

In a speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the West was trying to distort the truth about World War II for its colonial policies. According to the Russian president, revanchism is part of the politics of Western elites. Russia will do everything to prevent a global conflict.

At the same time, Putin praised the allies from the Second World War: “Russia has never reduced the importance of the second front, it appreciates all members of the anti-Hitler coalition.” But at the same time, he said that the whole of Europe worked for the Wehrmacht.

For the first time, soldiers involved in the war in Ukraine are also taking part in the parade, TASS reported, using the Russian designation Special Military Operations. “All participants in the Special Military War in Ukraine are our heroes,” Putin said. Many of these soldiers had several decorations.

A minute of silence honored the victims of the Great Patriotic War, but also those who fell in Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine. “For Russia, for victory,” shouted Putin at the end of the speech.

COMMENTARY: History cannot be changed – Alex Švamberk

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