On July 3, Belarus marked Independence Day, the main holiday of national statehood.
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© RIA Novosti . Egor Eremov
Since 1991, Belarus has celebrated Independence Day every July 27, the date when the State Sovereignty Declaration was passed. In 1996, participants in a republican referendum voted to celebrate Independence Day every July 3, the day when Minsk was liberated from Nazi forces in 1944.
A military parade involving over 3,000 officers and soldiers and about 200 pieces of military equipment was the main event of Independence Day celebrations. Photo: S-300 / SA-10 Grumble surface-to-air missile systems take part in military parade in Minsk.
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© RIA Novosti . Egor Eremov
As usual, Suvorov Military School cadets and soldiers wearing World War II uniforms opened the military parade
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© RIA Novosti . Egor Eremov
Cadets of the Minsk-based Suvorov Military School, cadets of the Belarusian Military Academy and a combined guard-of-honor company marched in formation through central Minsk. Paratroopers of the Pskov Airborne Division also took part in the parade.
All the main types of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters serving with the Belarusian Air Force and air-defense units, including Mil Mi-8 Hip transport helicopters, Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunships, Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker and Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters, flew in the skies above Minsk. Members of the Belaya Rus (White Russia) aerobatic display team, photo, flew in Aero L-39 Albatros combat trainers.
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© RIA Novosti . Andrei Aleksandrov
World War II military equipment, as well as the main types of weapons and military equipment of the Belarusian Armed Forces, took part in the parade. This equipment was followed by modern armored vehicles, surface-to-air missile systems, artillery pieces and multiple launch rocket systems.
Military personnel take part in Belarusian Independence Day Parade in Minsk. This image was taken using long-exposure photography method.
BELAZ mining dump trucks drive by during Belarusian Independence Day Parade in Minsk.
