Russia: Armed Forces to Celebrate 67-th Anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War

Military parades associated with the 67-th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War will take place in the hero cities and towns where headquarters of military districts and fleets (including Caspian Flotilla) are located, i.e. in 23 Russian cities and in Sevastopol as agreed upon with Ukraine, said Deputy Chief of Russian General Staff Gen. Col. Valery Gerasimov at a press conference.

Totally, about 40,000 servicemen will take part in parade activities as well as over 800 combat vehicles.

The military parade on the Red Square in Moscow will be attended by 14,000 servicemen. About 100 combat vehicles will pass in review on the legendary stone block pavement; they are armored cars Tiger, armored personnel carriers BTR-80, tanks T-90, self-propelled howitzers Msta-S, air defense systems Buk-M2 and S-400, antiaircraft missile/gun systems Pantsir-S1, and missile systems Iskander-M and Topol-M. In addition, five Mi-8 helicopters will fly over the Red Square carrying national flag of the Russian Federation and military branches’ flags.

In St. Petersburg, the festive parade will be attended by 1,500 servicemen and about 50 combat vehicles; in other cities – up to 1,000 servicemen and 20-30 combat vehicles.

Military parades will start on May, 9 at 10 am (local time); parade in Moscow will last up to 45 minutes.

Festive fireworks will take place in Moscow and all other parade-hosting cities at 10 pm.

Parade companies will start first marching drill on March 21 at Alabino Range, Moscow region; the drills will be held three times a week. There will be three night-time and one final rehearsal at the Red Square.

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Naval Today Staff , March 20, 2012;