Moscow – On Friday, Russia will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the former Soviet Union against Nazi Germany during World War II, amid a question of many about the reason for celebrating victory day in Russia on the ninth of May, while it celebrates other countries, which participated in the war, on the eighth of the same month.
What many people know is that before Germany surrendered, the initial protocol was signed on the night of May 8, 1945, between the Soviet Union and Germany, stipulating the German army to stop its military operations on all fronts as of that date.
Immediately after that, American and British newspapers were quick to declare the surrender of the German army to the allies on the specified date. With the participation of media representatives, allied forces and the Soviet forces, the unconditional surrender document for Germany was signed in Berlin on the night of the eighth of May 9.
Preparations and timing
The ceremony started at midnight of May 9 and ended at 00:43 after midnight, and the irony was that the time of surrender referred to in the document was the eighth of May, at 23:01 Berlin time, but since Moscow advances one hour of it, the final victory over Germany was considered from the Soviet point of view on the ninth of May.
Since the celebration of victory for the first time in the Red Square in Moscow in 1945 until now, the celebration is not considered complete without the central military parade in the same place, which is often an opportunity to review the military forces, raise morale and direct political messages.
Since early April, most exercises have been taking place in preparation for the show in the village of Alabino, Moscow Province, and from there the military equipment is launched along the planned road to the red square in the center of the capital.
The military parade officially begins at 10:00 local time and lasts for two hours, and it is not allowed to enter the stands surrounding the official platform except for holders of special invitations.
By land and air
The show program includes several main parts; The first is a festive formation of the various branches of the armed forces and the Air Force, and a greeting from the Russian President and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Vladimir Putin.
This is followed by a display of military equipment, including those that participated in World War II, in addition to the latest types of new weapons, including armored vehicles, emerging offensive aircraft, “Iskandar-M” missile systems, air defense systems “S-400”, and the “Yaris” strategic missile systems.
It has not been revealed yet, whether the mobile ballistic missile launcher will be displayed in the red square, and the military parade will include weapons and technologies used in the war with Ukraine, and those that were seized by its forces.
In addition, for the first time during the show – it will reveal the western weapons and equipment that were seized and brought to Moscow from the fighting areas in Ukraine, including the American Abrams tanks and the German Leopard 2 tank, and the armored vehicles of the Internet Max Pro Plus, and others.
According to expectations, the weather conditions in Moscow will allow the establishment of the airspace from the victory procession on the ninth of May, when the early month of this month was organized for the show, during which various combat aircraft and helicopters were seen flying over the capital.
It is also expected that the strategic missile carriers of the “To -1660” and “Tu -95 MS” strategic aircraft, as well as fuel, military transport and offensive helicopters, as well as other modern aircraft models.
Aircraft and helicopters will fly at an altitude ranging from 180 to 550 meters at a speed of up to 550 km per hour, as they will be lined up in show formations to be available from different points in Moscow.
Security restrictions
The establishment of the “Victory Day” activities this year comes in a tense political and security atmosphere due to the war with Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Folodimir Zellinski refused Putin’s suggestion of the ceasefire for 3 days, coinciding with the May 9, and his insistence – instead – to a 30 -day ceasefire.
“Kiev is doing everything in her power to reduce the arrival of foreign leaders to participate in the celebrations.”
Zelinski had stated that his country could not guarantee the safety of foreign leaders who would come to Moscow to attend the victory offer, and his office head, Andre Yermak, alluded to strikes against Moscow on May 9.
It is expected that the security measures surrounding the activities of this year, and perhaps unprecedented, are expected to be tightened by threats to “disturb” the atmosphere of celebrations.
On the basis of this, Russian official sources announced the full readiness of the security services, the police and the Ministry of Defense, the activation of air defense systems and other means, as operational preventive measures on the eve of the celebrations of the victory, and the deployment of the Air Defense Forces in potential directions to attack the capital.
It is also possible to impose restrictions on access to the Internet in Moscow to ensure the safety of festive events, according to the unified body to prevent and eliminate emergency cases.