Why Russia celebrates Victory Day?

NEW DELHI: Columns of tanks and troops paraded through Moscow on Wednesday as President Vladimir Putin presided over the grand World War II commemorations.


The parade traditionally takes place every year on May 9,

Russia

's most important holiday. This year, the 75th anniversary was supposed to highlight Russia's exception role in history and on the world stage.

However, Putin postponed the commemorations, citing the coronavirus concerns.

Here is all you need to know about the significance of the day:

What is Russia's

Victory Day

?

Nazi Germany signed an Act of Unconditional Surrender in a suburb of Berlin on the night of May 8, 1945, Berlin time, which was the early hours of May 9 Moscow time.
It marked the end of the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, an integral part of World War II lasting from 1939 to 1945.
The catastrophic war claimed about 27 million lives of people from the Soviet Union, according to official statistics.

Is June 24 significant?

Officials say the date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the first post-war parade on Red Square, which saw Soviet troops throw down Nazi standards in front of the Lenin mausoleum on June 24, 1945.

In his two decades in office, Putin has harnessed the legacy of the Soviet victory to boost patriotic sentiment and support for his government.

Victory Parade

On Wednesday, Putin was flanked on Red Square by elderly war veterans in uniforms laden with medals as thousands of troops carrying bright banners and Kalashnikov rifles marched in the blazing sun to mark the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany.

Putin hailed the Soviet Union's role in World War II praising the Red army for liberating Europe, ending the Holocaust and saving Germany from Nazism, adding it was "our duty to keep this in mind".

This year's parade, marking 75 years since the Nazi defeat showcased some 14,000 troops from 13 countries, as well as vintage equipment and the latest military hardware showing off Russia's fighting capabilities.

Some 14,000 soldiers took part in the parade, including units from several former Soviet republics and from Mongolia and Serbia.

More than 230 military vehicles drove across the vast square in the Russian capital, ranging from renowned WWII-era T-34 tanks to hulking Topol intercontinental ballistic missile-launchers.

A flyover of helicopters, bombers and fighter planes completed the show of military might.

Victory Day on June 24 this year

Russia was forced to postpone the traditional May 9 Victory Day celebrations due to the coronavirus pandemic this year. Last month, Putin rescheduled the parade for just a week ahead of a July 1 public vote on controversial constitutional reforms.

He announced the new dates last month for both parade and vote -- initially planned for April -- despite Russia still recording thousands of new coronavirus cases every day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron had been scheduled, before the pandemic, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Kremlin chief at the parade, in a testament to Russia's growing international influence under Putin. However, due to the pandemic, the plans were cancelled.

Rajnath Singh attends Parade

Defence minister Rajnath Singh attended attended the parade at the iconic Red Square and said he was extremely proud that a 75-member Tri-service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces participated in the 75th anniversary of the

Victory Day Parade

.

Singh arrived in Russia on a three-day visit on Tuesday at the invitation of the Russian ministry of defence to attend the celebrations.

The Tri-Service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces comprised 75 all ranks and marched along with contingents of Russian Armed Forces and 17 other countries, according to an official statement.

(With agency inputs)