Victory Parade in Kazan: a solemn procession of troops, military equipment and retro cars

(KZN.RU, May 9, Alina Berezhnaya). A parade of the Kazan garrison troops in honor of the 74th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War took place today on the Millennium Square. More than 2 thousand servicemen, cadets of military schools, and cadet classes marched on the square and combat vehicles passed as well. Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the RT, Mintimer Shaimiev, the state councilor of the RT, Alexey Pesoshin, the prime minister of the RT, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, and others attended the parade.

Green stands under the Kazan Kremlin were all crowded from early morning, it was the best place to watch the parade. Many came with their families on this sunny day. “My husband and I never miss the Victory Parade. This year we brought our little daughter for the first time. Children should be brought up on patriotism”, resident Anna Efremova shared her impressions.

  The main heroes of the occasion, veterans of the Great Patriotic War and rear front workers, were located in the central stands. Veterans wore orders and medals on their parade uniforms. This is a special day for them. “I have passed four wars and survived. Victory Day is a celebration of happiness. During the war, we dreamed of victory every day, lived in faith. I want the current generation to never know about the war. These are terrible years, may there always be a peaceful sky above us all”, said Farakh Khairutdinov, a veteran of World War II.

By tradition, the Victory Parade began with the carrying of the Victory Banner and the state flags of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan to the music “Holy War” by the of A. Aleksandrov.

Kazan citizens saw the live broadcast from the military parade on Red Square in Moscow on the big screen, where President Vladimir Putin congratulated all Russians on Victory Day. The head of state noted that there are many memorable dates and events in the country's history, but the main one is the victory over fascism. “Victory was forged by all the people. The garrison of the Brest Fortress was one of the first to take the first vile, sudden attack of the invaders. They fought to the last one standing. They left breathtaking inscriptions on the walls of the citadel for descendants. They sound to us as an oath and as a will: “I die, but I don’t give up”. The soldiers of their country did not spare their lives for the sake of its freedom, for the sake of a peaceful future, for the sake of each of us. We will never forget their courage and self-sacrifice, the exorbitant price by which the Victory was made. Our holy duty is to protect authentic heroes. We bow to all veterans. You live in different countries, but the feat that you accomplished together cannot be divided. We will always honor all of you, glorify the Victory, which was and remains one for all”, V. Putin congratulated the countrymen.

The memory of all those who did not return from the war, the veterans who died, was honored with a minute of silence. Then the national anthem of the Russian Federation sounded.

 Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, addressed with words of gratitude to the veterans. “74 years ago, fascism unconditionally capitulated to the courage and unity of the Soviet people, to the great fighting and labor feat. Then all countries, all nations understood that it was the Soviet Union, our Red Army and the multinational Soviet people who determined the outcome of the Second World War”, said R. Minnikhanov. The head of the republic emphasized that the Soviet people fought not against states and peoples, but against the excesses and barbarism of Nazism. The Great Victory cost the hardest, irrecoverable losses. “We bow our heads before the bright memory of all those who did not return from the war, mourn those who are no longer with us. The heroes of the war are in our hearts, they are with us in the ranks of the “Immortal Regiment”, in monuments and memorials”, noted Rustam Minnikhanov.

The President of the RT also noted that in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War in the RT, a competition was announced for the best project of the monument to the Victory Soldier in Kazan Pobedy Park.

 Addressing the veterans, the President of the RT noted: “Your life and destiny is an example for us and for the future generation. We will always follow your covenants, continue the traditions of our people, keep the commitment to the true ideals of peace, goodness and justice, and ensure the safety and protection of our great multiethnic homeland”. The anthem of Tatarstan sounded at the end of the President’s speech.

Then, troops of the Kazan garrison, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the EMERCOM, representatives of the Kazan military schools, republican public associations, students marched with a precise drill across the Millennium Square to the rhythm of the drums of the consolidated company of drummers of the Kazan Suvorov Military School.

The military vehicles, including the legendary IS, IS-3 and T-34 tanks and retro cars, passed the square.

The festive parade ended with a theatrical prologue and a joint choir of 1400 people who performed the song “Victory Day”.