The Russian island of Sakhalin was among the first to hold a military parade this year, with over 900 troops and 32 pieces of military equipment taking part.
The parade in Russia’s northern capital of St. Petersburg was held on the iconic Palace Square with some 200 war veterans and Siege of Leningrad survivors attending the event.
Novorossiysk, a southern port city on the Black Sea, held its parade in the Tsemes Bay. The military event showcased the Kasimov small anti-submarine ship, the SB-742 rescue tugboat, and the GS-402 hydrographic vessel, as well as a patrol boat of the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
Five years have passed since Crimea re-joined Russia, with victory parades organised in three cities on the peninsula - Sevastopol, Kerch, and Simferopol.
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4,500 military personnel walked through Palace Square in St. Petersburg that day.
© Sputnik / Irina Motina
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The famous T-34 tank opened the procession of military equipment. It was then followed by T-72B3 tanks, S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, Msta-S self-propelled artillery systems, and Iskander-M operational-tactical missile systems.
© Sputnik / Mikhail Kireyev
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Some 200 war veterans and residents of besieged Leningrad were invited to watch the parade on Palace Square.
© Sputnik / Irina Motina
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An aerial part of the parade was also held in St. Petersburg.
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The authorities made sure that the veterans were safe. In Moscow, they were brought to the parade by special transport, while drivers and volunteers were tested for the coronavirus.
© Sputnik / Maksim Bogodvid
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Actors march on Freedom Square in Kazan during the military parade to commemorate the 75th anniversary of victory in World War II.
© Sputnik / Maksim Bogodvid
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The military parades were followed by grand fireworks in the evening.
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The victory in World War II determined the future of the planet for decades and will forever remain in history as colossal in scale.
© Sputnik / Maxim Bogodvid
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T-34 tanks at a military parade on Freedom Square in Kazan.
© Sputnik / Maxim Bogodvid
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Speaking on Red Square in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled that during the war, the Soviet people liberated European countries from invaders and put an end to the terrible tragedy of the Holocaust.
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Now, Putin emphasised, Russia is to protect and uphold the truth about that terrible war.
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A soldier in a parade regiment at the military parade in Novorossiysk.
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Vice-Admiral Igor Osipov, commander of the Black Sea Fleet, noted that the victory parades in Sevastopol, Kerch, Novorossiysk, and Simferopol were held at the highest level.
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The S-400 anti-aircraft missile system is designed for highly effective protection against airstrikes, as well as strategic, cruise, and operational-tactical ballistic missiles.
© Sputnik / Kirill Yasko
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The parade on the central square of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk was attended by more than 900 people with 32 pieces of military and special equipment taking part.
© Sputnik / Kirill Yasko
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Tactical all-terrain vehicles of the Special Operations Force drive through Lenin Square in Tula.
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Amid the coronavirus pandemic, in some cities the festive events were held without spectators.
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People's lives and health remain the main priority of the authorities.
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The legendary T-34 tank led the display of military hardware in Volgograd. It was followed by other wartime hardware, and then by modern combat vehicles.
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Volgograd was lucky with the weather. Usually, this time of the month there is terrible heat in the city, but by the beginning of the celebrations the temperature had not risen above 23 degrees.
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After a five-year break in Sevastopol, a combined parade of female military personnel took part.
© Sputnik / Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
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Prior to the parade, wreaths and flowers were laid at the Eternal Flame at a memorial to honour the heroic defence of Sevastopol in 1941-1942.
© Sputnik / Konstantin Mihalchevskiy
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The military hardware part of the parade in Sevastopol was led by historical T-34 and IS-2 tanks, self-propelled artillery mounts of various calibres, and missile systems, which were stored on Sapun Mountain after the war and were rebuilt by Black Sea Fleet technicians.
© Sputnik / Konstantin Mihalchevskiy
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In Murmansk, festive events were held under the leadership of the commander of the Northern Fleet, Vice Admiral Alexander Moiseev. In total, about 1,500 people and 72 units of modern and historical military equipment took part in the parades in Murmansk and the nearby town of Severomorsk
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The “Pinocchio” (TOS -1A) heavy flamethrower launcher system based on the T-72 tank during a military parade.
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Following the parade in Moscow, Vladimir Putin thanked the military, noting that the soldiers and organisers of the event "did their best".
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Every year, the event becomes more vivid, piercing, and overgrows with new traditions, Vladimir Putin added.
© Sputnik / Pavel Lisitsyn
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