Russia, and other former Soviet republics, on Saturday (May 9) marked Victory Day.
Russian President Vladimir Putin laid red roses at the Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the the Kremlin's Alexander Garden, paying tribute to those fallen during the Soviet Union's 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany known elsewhere as the Second World War.
The Russian president later reviewed a march past by the Presidential Regiment of the Kremlin Commandant Service
Addressing the regiment Putin highlighted that "75 years ago, in May 1945, the Red Army put an end to the tragedy of the 20th century and completed with triumph the history's cruelest battle that was fair, heroic and sacrificing for the entire Soviet people."
"Precisely it crushed Nazism and routed this monstrous force that had brought death, grief and suffering to millions of people. I am confident that the grateful world will remember about this feat in decades and centuries," the president stressed.
The sturdiness, will power and unity of the generation of victors will forever remain as an example of the sacred attitude to the home land and country for the people of Russia, Putin added.
This year, mass events on the occasion of the Victory Day have been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged however that the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's Victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War will be celebrated widely and worthily later in the year with the military parade on Red Square and the Immortal Regiment march.
"We will necessarily celebrate the jubilee date as usual - widely and solemnly and will do it with dignity as our duty tells us with regard to those who went through sufferings, achieved and accomplished this Victory," the head of state said, addressing citizens on the occasion of the Victory Day.
"We will have both our main parade on Red Square and the Immortal Regiment people's march," the president said.
Small scale celebrations were also held in other former Soviet Republics. In Belarus however a full military parade was organised as usual.
source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin laid red roses at the Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the the Kremlin's Alexander Garden (picture courtesy of TASS, Moscow)
